Mango Bango is a Filipino dessert inspired by Buko Salad and/or Fruit Salad where Mangoes, Nata de Coco and Kaong are mixed together and served with Cream and Condensed Milk.
East and South East Asian desserts are quite simple, not too intricate and not too overly sweet. East and South East Asians do not have a lot of varieties when it comes to that and there is a reason behind it. In the region of East and South East Asia the majority of dishes are influenced by the Chinese. Chinese consider sweet food to be unhealthy, and they don’t have much of a tradition of dessert. Chinese find Western desserts overly sweet and heavy so traditionally Chinese restaurants is unlikely to offer dessert on their menu. If there, is it will be light desserts like almond jelly, egg tarts, sweet potato ginger soup, jelly with milk and sesame seed balls to name some. Having said that, this is just the majority but with globalisation, many forms of food are introduced by different cultures to other cultures and the new generation started to learn, enjoy and perhaps modify and adapt to these sweeter desserts.
Philippines is quite different, it’s a mix of Chinese and American. This means if we have something like almond jelly or sweet potato ginger soup, it will be almost similar in simplicity but the taste will be much sweeter and heavier. Take those two desserts I mentioned for example, for the almond jelly our counterpart would be the buko salad where it has a similar concept of combining fruits and jellies but instead of a light syrup, cream and condensed milk it used. Same with the sweet potato ginger soup, we have the ginataang halo halo as an equivalent, where root crops are served with sweet liquid but in the Philippines, we use coconut cream and lots of sugar.
Today our dessert, Mango Bango is quite a new creation, I am sure about that because I haven’t seen this when I grew up. All I know before was the Buko Salad and Fruit Salad, then several years later the Buko Pandan showed up, and most recently this one. All have the same concept, as they all combine fruits and jellies which is then served with a concoction of a simple mix of whipped cream and condensed milk.
Mango Bango is a Filipino dessert inspired by Buko Salad and/or Fruit Salad where Mangoes, Nata de Coco and Kaong are mixed together and served with Cream and Condensed Milk.
340gkaong (sugar palm fruit), drained then chilled
250ml fresh cream, chilled
200ml (half full 400 ml can) condensed milk, chilled
Instructions
In a blender or food processor puree flesh from one mango.
In a mixing bowl whip, the cream until stiff peaks form, gradually add the condensed milk and mango puree until well incorporated.
In a bowl combine remaining mango cubes, nata de coco, and kaong. Pour the flavoured cream into the mixture then fold until distributed. Chill before serving.
Growing up we hardly had any dessert…fruit was what we might consider dessert…my mom loves our local mangoes, which are really aromatic and sweet, though relatively small. She would for sure enjoy this mango bango. The best mango that I have ever had was when I was in Manila.
It is the sweetest, best textured and most of the time non firbous mangoes you will ever try. The flavours, if comparing to others like Indian and Peruvian variety, the flavours are concentrated in the Philippine mangoes, think of it in a scale of 1 to 10, with regards to flavour other versions may be in the scale of 3 or 4, the Philippines is in 10.
Do you mean Sweetened Condensed Milk? It is a lot different than Condensed milk which is more like cream. This looks like a lovely summer dessert, perfect for vine ripened fruit.
Even though I love sweets, I actually consider most American desserts to be way too sweet, too. But desserts with fruit, even if some sugar and cream are involved, do have at least some health benefits. That’s why this is 100% right up my alley!
Growing up we hardly had any dessert…fruit was what we might consider dessert…my mom loves our local mangoes, which are really aromatic and sweet, though relatively small. She would for sure enjoy this mango bango. The best mango that I have ever had was when I was in Manila.
I love your recipes! But… Your recipe indicates recipes in Metric or US. But it does not convert to US. Please do for me. Salamat.
I love mangoes! How are Filipino ones different?
It is the sweetest, best textured and most of the time non firbous mangoes you will ever try. The flavours, if comparing to others like Indian and Peruvian variety, the flavours are concentrated in the Philippine mangoes, think of it in a scale of 1 to 10, with regards to flavour other versions may be in the scale of 3 or 4, the Philippines is in 10.
Wow — I had no idea. I now see they are also called Carabao mangoes — I will look for them!
Do you mean Sweetened Condensed Milk? It is a lot different than Condensed milk which is more like cream. This looks like a lovely summer dessert, perfect for vine ripened fruit.
Mango in cream/milk? Sounds good. I would love to try it with santan (coconut milk) though, our tropical style.
Interesting notes about the fusion of dessert cultures…thanks for sharing that background! And I love the tropical vibe here with the mango.
★★★★★
Mangoes are terrific, so I’m sure I’d love this dish. And who can resist the name — Mango Bango! That alone sells me. 🙂 Really nice — thanks.
Such a luscious creamy treat! I like how you combined all the best parts of so many traditional desserts to make something entirely new.
Such a catchy name, and it looks so creamy and delicious! All my favourite things in one dessert!
★★★★★
Even though I love sweets, I actually consider most American desserts to be way too sweet, too. But desserts with fruit, even if some sugar and cream are involved, do have at least some health benefits. That’s why this is 100% right up my alley!
★★★★★
Looks like a very delightful fruity and creamy dessert! Something I’ve never tasted obviously, but I know I’d love.