No-Churn Mango Sorbet

One of the things I relish about being in Vietnam is eating all the tropical fruit. Fruit seems to be everywhere, beautifully displayed at open air markets, roadside stands, and fresh juice and smoothie street carts.

The range is astounding—from different kinds of lychees and durian to jackfruit and soursop. Vietnam is geographically long and varied in climate so many kinds of fruits may be grown, including familiar strawberries and avocados.

Within Vietnam’s broad range of fruity goodness, the mango consistently captivates me with its fragrance, silky flesh, and sweet-tangy flavor. It screams, “I’m tropical!”

Eating Mango as a Kid

When I was about five years old, my mom often mixed chopped mango and rice to get me to eat more. She’d sprinkle in a little fish sauce for a touch of umami depth—it’s not weird sounding if you consider pairing mango chutney with seafood.

Nowadays, I’ll make a green mango salad for a savory treat. I also enjoy mangoes for a refreshing sweet treat, either between meals or at the end of a meal.

Peak season fruit is highly prized by the Vietnamese (it’s the same for people of many other cultures), and we often gift one another fruit. Having lived in America for most of my life, I’ve adapted my tastes and have also figured out work-arounds to savor my favorite tropical fruit.

Buy Frozen Mango for Sorbet

When excellent mangoes are not in season and I want to experience their refreshing verve, I buy frozen chunks and turn them into this vibrant sorbet.

One of the advantages of buying frozen fruit is that it’s harvested at ripeness and, in the case of mangoes, the brands I’ve used are not stringy. As a lifelong mango eater, there’s nothing more disappointing than eating stringy mango, which can have a dental floss effect in your mouth.

With frozen mango on hand, this sorbet is fast to make and, as an added bonus, it’s fat-free.

Easy No-Churn Sorbet

The lime zest and juice enliven the mango flavor. Before grating the lime zest, scrub the lime a bit to remove any wax. A fine rasp grater like a microplane is great for zesting the lime.

A food processor works best to make this kem xoài recipe. One of my recipe testers asked about using a blender, so I tried it and found that blending the mixture requires more liquid to puree the fruit. The result was great for a frozen margarita, but not ideal when I was aiming for a sorbet with strong flavor.

How to Serve This Sorbet

Serve this mango lime sorbet on its own or add a cookie (something coconut-y or gingery would be great). If you’re hosting a fancy multi-course meal, consider the sorbet as a palate cleanser between courses. The beauty of this sorbet recipe is you can make it whenever you want!

Love Sorbet? Check Out These Recipes!

• Melon Sorbet
• Rhubarb Sorbet
• Meyer Lemon Sorbet
• Blueberry Sorbet
• Tangerine Sorbet