Raw Mango mania

Thai style raw mango salad
Ingredients
l 1 raw mango (peeled and
julienned or shredded)
 1 small carrot (julienned or shredded)
 2 shallots or onion ( thin sliced)
 10 to 12 cherry tomatoes
 2 red chillies
 ½ inch piece of ginger
 25 gm jaggery or honey
 1 tbsp soya sauce
 1 coriander root (cleaned)
 25 gm crushed peanuts 

Method
Wash and peel the mango. Cut into thin shreds.  In a mortar and pestle, grind together the red chilli, ginger, jaggery, soya sauce and coriander root, till you have a saucy texture. In a mixing bowl, add the mango, carrots, shallot and cherry tomatoes. Add the dressing and toss well. Top with crushed, roasted peanuts. Serve with an Asian style entrée.

Mamidi varugulu
Ingredients
 1 cup of raw mango, sliced finely
 2 to 3 tsp of salt
 1 tsp of turmeric
 2 to 3 tsp of chilli powder

Method
Take the mango, slice it finely. To prepare the mamidi varugulu, add salt, chilli and turmeric powder and mix well. Let it sit overnight. Make sure you cover the bowl. The next day, it will ooze some water. Squeeze out that  water and dry the mango slices in the sun. After two or three days of drying, the mamidi varugulu will be ready. You can store it for more than a year. When you want to use it, soak the pieces in water for two hours with a little turmeric and then use it.

Aam ki Launj
Ingredients
   1 tbsp oil
   ½ tsp kalonji (nigella seeds)
   1 tsp saunf
    2 dry red chillies, cut into rough pieces
    2 grated or sliced raw
mangoes – medium size
    1/3 tsp salt
   5 tbsp sugar or grated jaggery

Method
Heat oil in a kadai, and add kalonji, saunf and red chillies. Add the mango and salt. Cover and cook over low heat for 10-12 minutes. When soft, add the sugar or jaggery and cook till it dissolves. Remove from heat and serve lukewarm or cold along with rice or paranthas.

A slice of raw mango

Health benefits of raw mangoes
If you thought eating raw mangoes with chilli and salt was all there was to it this season, you are wrong. Take a look at the various health benefits of raw mangoes: A slice of raw mango is a great remedy for acidity. Chew on a piece and it will reduce your heartburn. We all get dehydrated during summer. Raw mangoes eaten with little salt will prevent excessive loss of water from the body. Eating raw mangoes after lunch will also give you energy and will get rid of the drowsiness.

One of the most important benefits of raw mangoes is that it helps treat liver disorders. Eating raw mangoes increases the secretion of bile. Constipation is another problem that raw mango can solve. Eating raw mangoes with salt and honey helps solve digestive problems.

— Compiled by Priyanka Praveen