A tropical relative of the pistachio and the cashew, the mango has a smooth skin and orange yellow flesh that is juicy, buttery, and sweet. Choose mangoes with a sweet, fragrant aroma. They should yield to gentle pressure. Mangoes will ripen at room temperature at home.

(1) Leave the peel on and slice lengthwise around each side of the pit. To get the maximum amount of flesh out of the fruit, cut as closely to the pit as possible, or slightly off center.

(2) Use a paring knife to score the flesh in a grid pattern. Be careful not to cut all the way through the skin.

(3) Using your thumbs, push from the skin side and turn the slice inside out. The flesh can then be easily cut off with a paring knife.