The mango is a tropical fruit that has found an international home in the 21st century. These large, dense, orange-fleshed treat is delicious on its own, but may defy the imagination when it comes to cooking with it. Mangoes have a sweet, mild flavor that can be successfully blended into a variety of dishes, in both dessert and savory recipes.

One of the best drinks you can make with this fruit is the traditional Indian mango lassi. Mangoes have been cultivated in India for more than 2000 years, and can turn this native and healthy milkshake into a thick, flavorful cooler. To make a mango lassi, combine plain yogurt, mango chunks or slices, a little white sugar and a few tablespoons of ice water in a blender. After blending until smooth, you may wish to put your blender in the freezer for about ten minutes to thicken the mixture. Mangoes are delicious in any fruit smoothie, and add texture that can allow you to forgo fattening ice-cream.

To spice up southwestern cuisine, try making your own tangy mango and avocado salsa. Peel and cut mangoes into small chunks, and combine in a bowl with avocado, red onion, bell peppers, a finely chopped hot pepper and cilantro. Toss these ingredients with a splash of olive oil and vinegar and sprinkle with salt and a dash of sugar. This recipe is quick, easy, and sure to kick quesadillas or nachos up a level.

For a twist on banana or zucchini bread, try replacing traditional flavors with mangoes. Mix up a batch of your favorite sweet bread batter and add mashed mango pulp to the mixture before baking. You may also want to throw in raisins or currants, or add coconut for a truly tropical breakfast or snack bread. This bread is a great gift, especially if you add a jar of pineapple jelly.

The wonderful creamy and thick texture of mangoes lends itself to making delicious chilled soups. These dishes are fantastic for hot summer suppers, and can be modified to make them sweet or spicy. For a low fat version, blend peeled and sliced mangoes with lemon juice, sugar and nonfat sour cream. Try serving over berries as a seasonal dessert, or spice up with cinnamon, cardamom and hot peppers and serve in shot glasses as a fiery first course.

As these fruits have a long history in Indian cuisine, they have a special place in the world of Indian chutneys. To make mango chutney, chop several mangoes into chunks and sauté with onions, chili, bell peppers and ginger. To this mixture, add pineapple juice, vinegar, curry powder, nuts and whatever spices you enjoy. If stored properly, this mixture can last for weeks and is a delicious condiment for sandwiches and an excellent topping for toast. You can try packing it into jam jars and giving as a gift to friends, but expect to be pestered for your recipe.

Mangoes are somewhat intimidating, but are worth the effort of understanding their taste and texture. Once you fall in love with the fruit, you will see that it is easily adapted into a variety of dishes. Mangoes are great for dieters, as they are quite nutritious and make and excellent substitute for heavier desserts. Try dipping sliced mango in honey sprinkled with chili flakes for a fantastic and easy dessert that will satisfy the strongest sugar craving.