Mango is a flexible fruit that goes well with several other baby food recipes. Consider serving this with Puréed Brown Rice (page 86) or Puréed Cauliflower (page 31). Mango also freezes very well, so you can triple or quadruple this recipe to have enough for several weeks.

• Wash and peel the mango. Cut fruit away from pit and chop into pieces.

• If the mango is not completely ripe, place in a steamer basket and steam for 15–20 minutes, or until very tender. If the mango is very ripe, you may be able to fork-mash it without cooking.

• Allow mango to cool, then fork-mash to desired consistency.

The Origin of Mangoes

Mangoes are often considered to be a tropical fruit, but they're actually indigenous to Southeast Asia. They do grow best in tropical climates, and the trees can reach 50–60 feet tall. The majority of the mangoes sold in the United States originate from Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean.