Sweet and Spicy Mango Kefir | The Recipe ReDux

I admit, I was stumped with this month’s Recipe ReDux theme (the first and only recipe challenge founded by registered dietitians –join us!) which is “Fermented Foods.” You may have heard about the health benefits of these foods – many which can be traced back thousands of years to ancient cultures like Rome and China. The probiotic strains that are created during lacto-fermentation are good for our guts and help protect against food borne illnesses. (Read more on the history and health benefits of fermenation in Food & Nutrition Magazine.)

This ReDux challenge encouraged us to make our own fermented food (or use as an ingredient.) I considered making sourdough bread (you need a starter), kefir (you need a starter), sauerkraut (you need a ceramic crock) and then with 48 hours to go, I realized time was not on my side.

So, instead, I bought some already fermented, plain kefir. Kefir is cultured milk drink (think a cross between yogurt and buttermilk) that is fermented with kefir grains. Currently, I’m loving the rising trend of mixing spicy & savory spices/herbs with desserts and fruits – I recently had some gourmet chili mango hard candy (mango with chili is a common treat in many warm climates around the globe.) Here I used smoked paprika (my spice obsession over the past year) in place of chili powder and upon researching the best way to mix spice into a drink, I stumbled across making spiced ice cubes.

The creamy tang of the kefir + the sweetness from the mango & honey + the smoky burn of paprika = a heavenly flavor trio! (If you want more spicy heat and less smoke, use chili powder instead.)

Sweet & Spicy Mango Kefir – The Recipe ReDux

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• Author: by Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD
• Yield: 4 drinks 1x

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Description

Kefir is a fermented drink that is good for your gut. This month’s Recipe ReDux recipe is a flavored kefir with sweet mango, spicy smoked paprika and honey.

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Ingredients

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• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup water
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped frozen mango, divided
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 4 cups 1% plain kefir

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Instructions

1. To make the spiced ice cubes, combine smoked paprika (or chili powder) in 1 cup water. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze.
2. Once ice cubes are ready, add 3 – 4 cubes (depending on how spicy you like your drink) to a blender. Add 1 cup frozen mango, 1/3 cup water and 1 tablespoon honey. Puree until well blended.
3. To serve, pour 1 cup of kefir into a glass. Pour 1/4 – 1/3 cup spiced mango puree on top. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons frozen mango. Swirl with a spoon and serve. (Repeat 3 more times – makes a total of 4 kefir drinks.)

What’s your favorite fermented food? Have you ever made your own yogurt or kefir?