
Rice with Mango and Chilli
Sweet-sour rice with ripe mango, árbol chilli and fresh tropical herbs.
About this recipe
Long-grain rice with ripe mango, dried árbol chilli and fresh herbs. A sweet-sour dish celebrating the tropical flavours of Mexico's Pacific and Gulf coasts.
History & Origin
Mango arrived in Mexico in the 17th century, brought by the Portuguese via Goa, India. It adapted brilliantly to the Pacific and Gulf coasts, and Mexicans quickly incorporated it into both sweet and savoury cooking. The tradition of combining fruit with chilli is ancient in Mexico: chamoy, fruits with piquín chilli, dried-fruit pastes with dried chilli. Rice with mango and chilli follows the same logic, contrasting ripe mango's sweetness with the heat of árbol chilli and the fragrance of coriander and mint. In Veracruz there is a long tradition of rice flavoured with tropical fruits, linked to the Cuban and Caribbean influence that arrived through the port. This dish represents that confluence: Spanish sofrito technique, New World tropical fruit and indigenous chilli, united in a single plate that now appears in contemporary Mexican kitchens as a prime example of the country's culinary mestizaje.
Estimated cost
£4.40
Total cost
£1.10
Per serving
* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets
Nutritional information per serving
310
Calories
5g
Protein
60g
Carbohydrates
6g
Fat
3g
Fibre
290mg
Sodium
* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.
Method
- 1
Peel and dice 2 ripe mangoes into 1.5cm cubes. Set half aside to garnish when serving.

💡 Use Ataulfo or Manila mango for the best sweetness and texture.
- 2
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Fry 1.5 cups washed and drained rice over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden, 4–5 minutes.

- 3
Add half a finely diced onion and 1 minced garlic clove. Fry 2 more minutes.

- 4
Add half the diced mango and 2 crumbled dried árbol chillies. Mix well and pour in 2.75 cups hot vegetable stock. Season with salt.

💡 Hot stock speeds cooking and prevents the rice from going hard.
- 5
When boiling, cover, reduce to minimum heat and cook 18 minutes without lifting the lid. Remove from heat, rest 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve garnished with the reserved fresh mango, chopped coriander and lime juice.

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Founder, Recetas Mexas
Mexican from Puebla, IT professional and foodie. Author of 736+ authentic Mexican recipes adapted for European kitchens. Based in Madrid since 2018.
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