After asking everyone for mango dishes from around the world, I was surprised to learn about mango dal, which is also called mamidikaya pappu. I have tried many kinds of dal in my life, but I had never even heard of mango dal before this video. In Indian cooking, dal is dried legumes such as lentils that are used to make a stew-like dish.

Mamidikaya pappu was submitted by Akihila, who was from Uttah Pradesh in India. She wanted to share this dish because it is one of her favorite dishes that her mom makes, and it reminds her of the summer. Her family eats the dish with rice, and they mix them together and eat it with their hands. The best mangoes for this recipe are unripe mangoes that are hard and sour. Mangoes are locally grown in India, and they are loved by everyone. They are used in many sweet desserts and can even be found in savory dishes, including this one.

Eating with your hands is the proper way to eat Indian food, and it is part of their customs and traditions. The practice originated from Ayurvedic teachings where it is believed that eating with your hands allows your body to be in sync with nature. When I made mango dal, I also ate this dish with my hands to get the full experience. Just make sure you wash your hands before eating and never eat with your left hand since it is considered disrespectful.

When cooking mamidikaya pappu, I thought it was interesting that the mango skin is left on to get all of the flavors into the dish. The pressure cooker makes the mango skin so soft you can’t even tell it was the mango skin. The dal is slightly sour from the mango, yet it still has the floral, sweet smell of fruit. I will definitely make this dish again, and it is simply delicious.