How to Cut a Mango – in Kauai

Mangoes are tricky fruits. They have that giant seed in the middle, and it’s all too easy to make a mess if you don’t know what you’re doing. Fortunately, a few step by step instructions are all that separate you from Mango Mastery. And, I’ve included a few tips on navigating Kauai’s farmer’s markets too – hey, you have to find them first right?

1. Buy the mango. In Kauai, this isn’t as simple as it sounds. While Kauai has farmers markets every day of the week, the produce sections of these markets are only open for one hour, during which all purchases must be made. You have to go in with a plan, or you’ll find yourself asking “what’s that spiny looking fruit over there?” as another customer snatches it out from under you.

Even getting into the market is cutthroat. At 9:20am, my husband and I were in the midst of a crowd of fifty people standing behind a rope waiting for the market to begin. At 9:30am a shout went out that the market was officially open and those in front literally ran like it was a land-grab race from the 1900’s.

Prioritize your shopping list; here’s mine: Mangoes, papayas, apple-bananas, lychees, salad (sprinkled with fragrant peppery nasturtiums), and passion fruit goat cheese from the Kauai Kunana Dairy. In the spring, look for Atulfo mangoes – they’re the sweetest and creamiest variety.

2. Once you’ve brought home your haul, get a knife, and hold your mango with the long side perpendicular to the floor. Look directly down at your mango and you’ll notice that it’s not round like an apple, but oval. In the center of that oval is a large flat seed, so if you place your knife just to the right and left of center, you can slide it down along the face of the seed, losing minimal meat.

3. When you’ve removed the seed and have two halves, it’s time for the fun part: making hashmarks with your knife, being careful not to slice through the skin. Then, pop the mango inside-out and cut off the cubes of deliciousness.

4. Enjoy your mango outside on the lanai, and bring the seed out on a plate too. You might find some takers in the local wildlife.

Do you have a story about Hawaii? Enter it into the Wanderlust and Lipstick Hawaii Island Travel Writing Contest! You might find yourself munching on mangoes sooner than you think.

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