Raw desserts are my favourite. Rich, creamy and often substantial but without leaving you feeling like you just ate a brick.
Being vegan does mean it’s pretty much impossible to buy dessert out (in Oxford at least) and I’ve been pretty pushed for time recently with studying and exams sadly leaving me limited opportunity for kitchen fun. I’m someone who needs a sweet fix every day and I’ve been making do with fruit, dark chocolate and snack bars. But…the snack bars and the chocolate have run out and fruit alone isn’t cutting the mustard. So, now I’m free as a bird, I decided it was time to remedy the lack of dessert asap.
I had a mango waiting to be eaten and thought a tart with a sweet and tangy mango layer would be yummy. The typical base for a creamy raw dessert is cashews, but as you might have read in my last post, I’m trying to use up things I’ve got and my cashews ran out a while ago. Not giving up on my dessert that easily I had to come up with another option. I remembered some delicious lemon tarts I made a few months ago which used agar flakes and coconut butter for creaminess and to thicken up the filling and thought I’d adapt the recipe for a mango variety.
Raw Mango Coconut Tartlets:
(Adapted from Fragrant Vanilla Cake)
Crust:
1/2C Almond Meal (a scant 1/2 cup whole almonds ground in a food processor)
1/2C Shredded coconut
3/4C Dates (Prunes also work!)
1/8t Salt
Mango Layer:
1T Agar flakes
6T Hot water
1 1/2C Diced mango
3T Lemon juice
2T Agave nectar
1T Coconut oil, melted
3T Coconut butter, melted (I used homemade but also recommend Artisana brand)
Coconut Flakes to top
Combine ingredients for the crust in a food processor, adding the dates in gradually as you may need more or less depending on how soft they are. The mixture should start to stick together.
Divide the crust mixture between 6 silicone muffin cases (you could use any tart tins you have or even ramekins lined with cling film). Press firmly to form a base. Put the tartlets in the fridge or freezer to firm up while you make the mango layer.
For the mango cream, dissolve the agar flakes in hot water and leave to cool while you get the other ingredients ready. In a blender, blend together all the remaining ingredients along with the agar mixture until you get a nice smooth creamy consistency. Taste for sweetness, you may want a touch more agave or lemon juice depending on your preference and the ripeness of your mango.
Divide the mango cream between the cases and tap down hard on a counter to remove air bubbles. Place in freezer for a few hours to firm up completely before removing from the cases. Pop tartlets out of cases and allow to sit in the fridge or at room temperature until the mango layer has softened up. Not too long or it will melt everywhere!
Top with coconut flakes to serve
Makes 6
(Stored in the freezer these will keep for several weeks)
I love mango in savoury dishes too- grain + bean salads, kale salads with avocado + toasted nuts, fruity salsa for a dip or to serve with tacos.
What’s your favourite mango recipe?
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those look really good (and that’s not just the juice fast speaking 😉 Favourite mango recipe? Well, I love to eat it just as is actually, but for a recipe I would have to go with my raw mango-cucumber sushi rolls (with plenty of mango on the side) http://vesenmork.blogspot.be/2013/04/sushi.html
Those nori rolls look fabulous- I haven’t made sushi for ages.
Straight up mango is pretty darn good and most often when I have mangoes they get eaten up just as is too. Hope the juice fast is going well!
Raw desserts are my favourite too! It was my birthday this week and I made myself a raw chocolate & lime cashew cream cake 😀
Your mango tartlets look amazing & I can’t wait to give them a try. My family loves mangoes and this dessert looks so fresh! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe 😀 xx
Chocolate and lime cashew cream cake sounds divine! I hope you post the recipe.
And I always make my own birthday cake too
Oh my goodness! I just found you through Healthy Vegan Fridays and I’m signing up for your email updates. LOVE your blog! Would you like to share this recipe at Raw Foods Thursdays? We’d love for you to join in the fun!!
http://www.glutenfreecat.com/2013/06/raw-foods-thursdays-61313/
Hope to see you there!
Heather
Thanks Heather! I’m just getting started but blogging’s proving a lot of fun. I’d love to join you at Raw Foods Thursdays, just linking up now
You are off to a fantastic start! I’m so glad you linked up. I’ll be highlighting your recipe tomorrow at Raw Foods Thursdays. Keep up the fantastic work!!!
Heather
Mmm… fantastic recipe. Looking forward to see more recipes from you
Hi, I’m Sandra btw. I blog about sugarfree foods over at candidadietplan.com. Nice to meet you.
Thanks for stopping by Sandra. Glad you like the sound of my mango coconut tartlets.
Those look absolutely wonderful!! Celeste