From hurtling down from trees, to being sold for big bucks on the auction block, to making their way into entrées all over town, mangoes are so hot right now. Miami is in the midst of its annual mango mania, and what's not to love about it?
For those who can't get enough of the fleshy goodness of this tropical fruit, Keith Kalmanowicz of Love & Vegetables will host a mango cooking class (and tasting) this Saturday. For $75, you can take your mango mastery skills up a notch or two. (And if you're broke, they're also giving away a seat to one lucky Miamian.)
See also: It's Raining Mangoes: Make Pound Cake With Your Seasonal Haul (Recipe)
The classes were born out of people's requests, Kalmanowicz says. They'll be ongoing and cover a host of topics.
"So many people have been asking for cooking classes and recipes," he says. "We were trying to feed everyone, but we realized it's better to educate, to empower."
During the inaugural class, Kalmanowicz will explain five ways to use the versatile mango, which he dubs the five S's: salads, soups, smoothies, savory, and sweets. Mango is the ultimate renaissance fruit, after all.
The classes will accommodate five or six people, and they'll be broken up into miniteams to create portions of the menu. "Everyone is contributing to each recipe, but they'll see everything come together at once. We've found that to be the most efficient way to learn hands-on and see the whole process," he says.
Plus, Kalmanowicz will school everyone on the mango basics. "They'll learn how to peel it, how to freeze it, and everyone gets to sit down and taste what we created."
This first class is a test run of sorts, he says. Next month, they'll probably hold two classes on different topics, including one revolving around avocados.
"We're going to focus on what's in season, what's available, how to use it," he says.
Come fall, they'll be working with local CSAs and farms to determine what to focus on. He's also collecting feedback from potential attendees to home in on what people want to learn (so speak up if you have a burning need to learn the art of kale prep).
The first class menu is as follows:
- Mango avocado salad (shaved red onions, spiced candied walnuts, and lime vinaigrette)
- Chilled spicy mango soup (roasted peppers, coconut crema, and candied ginger)
- Miami mango smoothie (orange, coconut, and chia)
- Oyster mushroom napoleon (local avocados, marinated tomatoes, and mango vinaigrette)
- Warm peach cobbler
- Gluten-free granola
- One-ingredient mango sorbet
The class will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at a private home in Miami this Saturday, July 26. The address will be emailed to participants after enrollment. To sign up (and to enter to win the seat they're giving away), visit loveandvegetables.com.
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