Mango magic: Filipino flavours that bring childhood memories to life in Dubai

Dubai: Back home in the Philippines, summer meant one thing: mango season — and it was magical. As a kid in Quezon City, I vividly remember those carefree afternoons with my sisters and friends. We'd head to my grandparents’ house where the mango trees in the backyard would droop low, their branches heavy with fruit — so low that we could just jump and grab them. With each leap, we'd fill a basket full of green mangoes to take back home to Makati, Manila, our little treasure from the province.

We had our ways of ripening them quickly. We’d tuck the mangoes into a sack of rice, waiting eagerly for them to turn golden and soft. The transformation felt like a small miracle. And when they finally ripened? Oh, that sweet, floral aroma and juicy flavour made it worth the wait.

But even unripe, those green mangoes were gold.

My mom used to whip up the most incredible green mango and tomato salad — pungent red onions, a punchy shrimp paste, the brightness of cilantro, and a sweet-sour dressing that coated everything perfectly. Paired with grilled seafood or meat, it was an explosion of flavours — savoury, tangy, sweet, and fresh. Honestly, it was so good, I’d eat it straight from the bowl with a spoon.

Now living in Dubai, the taste of home never leaves me—especially during a boodle fight feast. Surrounded by grilled bangus, squid, shrimp, okra, eggplant, and ripe mango, a generous mound of mango tomato salad always finds its place on the banana leaf spread. It’s more than just an appetiser; it’s a vivid memory served on a plate.

And then there’s 'Burong Mangga' — my mom’s special pickled mangoes. She made them with care: crisp green mango slices soaked in a sweet-sour brine, infused with garlic and red chili. The secret? Always use kosher salt, not iodised, to keep that brine perfectly clear and clean.

Whether eaten as a snack or served next to barbecued ribs or grilled tilapia, those pickled mangoes were addictively good — the kind that makes your mouth water just thinking about them.

The best part? Dubai’s Filipino groceries have kept these flavours within reach. From unripe mangoes perfect for pickling to jars of ready-made Burong Mangga, it’s comforting to know that home is just a bite away, no matter where you are.

So every time I sit down to eat that tangy mango salad or pop open a jar of pickled mangoes, I’m instantly transported — back to sunny afternoons, jumping under mango trees, and the unforgettable joy of homegrown flavour.