The Mango Mussolini Martini

Tyranny is a sober subject. Tonight we drink.

Every good Floridian knows the best mangoes are the ones you steal from your neighbor’s tree. Best to knock on their door and get permission, of course.

Mangoes are good for almost any application. They work in savory dishes, fruit salads, salsas, and smoothies. The one thing a mango is not particularly useful for is running a democracy.

How to Cut a Mango

Start by identifying the thinner profile of the fruit. The pit runs lengthwise through the center and is wider than you think, so you’ll want to cut slightly off-center, all the way down. Do the same on the other side. You now have two halves and a pit surrounded by fruit you’re going to eat over the sink like a reasonable adult.

For a handheld treat, score the inside of each half in a grid pattern, as deep as you can go without poking through the skin. Then push the skin side inward, and the flesh fans out. This is the hedgehog method, and it is deeply satisfying.

For chunks to use in a puree or salad, skip the grid. Instead, cut each half into strips, then cut the strips across or twice more without cutting through the skin. Lay the skin as flat as you can on your cutting board and slice away from you, keeping your fingers clear. You’ll get clean pieces with minimal waste.

Some people recommend peeling the whole mango before cutting. Those people also enjoy handling a large, slippery, golden missile over their kitchen floor.

There is no right answer here.

The Recipe

The base formula for a mango martini is equal parts mango puree, vodka, and triple sec.

My version adjusts the quantities slightly and replaces triple sec with watermelon liqueur and a squeeze of lemon. A Luxardo cherry is the garnish, like a prize at the bottom of the martini glass.

I call this drink the Mango Mussolini. In honor of no one in particular.

Tyranny is a sober subject, but tonight we drink. That hits the spot. That is the taste of sweet resistance.

Be kind, and wash your behind.

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Mango Musolini Martini

Ingredients:

2.5 oz Vodka

2 oz Mango purée

1 oz Watermelon liqueur

0.5 oz Fresh lemon or lime juice

Ice for shaking

Optional: lemon or lime wheel and merichino cherry for garnish.

Directions:

1. Combine: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the vodka, mango purée, watermelon liqueur, and lemon juice.

2. Shake: Shake vigorously for about 15 to 20 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.

3. Serve: Strain the cocktail into a chilled martini glass and garnish as desired.

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