Hatcher Mangoes originally published on Food and Fond Memories on July 15, 2011 by sandyaxelrod Leave a Comment (Edit)
Hatcher Mangoes
A Return Visit to Hatcher Mango Hill for Some Namesake Mangoes
The Mangoes Look Like Christmas Ornaments Hanging from the Trees
Grilled Hearts of Palm and Crab Salad with Hatcher Mangoes
I know I have been writing a lot about mangoes lately but that’s because I discovered Hatcher Mango Hill. Last week I got the long awaited email that my bag of Hatcher mangoes could be picked up right after July 4th. So on July 5 I drove to the farm on Hypoluxo Road in Lantana, Florida impatient to taste their prized Hatcher mangoes. As I pulled up to the house I was greeted by a very nice young man who introduced himself as Marilynn Hatcher’s grandson. Before he went to get my bag of mangoes I asked if I could have a moment with Marilynn. Although he told me she was busy, when I told him I had written a blog about the farm and their mangoes he immediately went to get her! Marilynn Hatcher was such a lovely sweet woman and we chatted for only a brief time since she was busy. I learned that the Hatcher crop this year was way down from previous seasons because of two wind storms we had when the mangoes were only about an inch big causing them to fall to the ground long before maturity. Marilynn said that some of her regulars were going to be disappointed this year because there was such a small yield. Hatcher Mango Hill sits on only four acres and she wishes she had more land to plant more trees. I felt so lucky to be among the privileged few to taste the Hatchers this year. This is no ordinary mango. IT’S HUGE!!! I would venture to say that one Hatcher is about as big as three normal mangoes. It peels easily, has no stringiness, and a very thin small pit. It is drip down your chin juicy and sweet with a buttery mouth feel. I thought the Hadens were delicious but the Hatchers are absolutely amazing. I decided I had to use one in a salad with crabmeat allowing the mango to be a co-star. As it turned out I only used half of a mango. That is how large they are! Thanks to a Bobby Flay’s Boy Meets Grill episode on Brazilian food I got a recipe for Grilled Hearts of Palm and Crab Salad with Mango. To say the dish was delectable would be an understatement. It was loaded with crab and mango. Grilling the hearts of palm gave it just a hint of smokiness. The dressing was made with coconut milk, habanero hot sauce, honey, fresh lime juice, cilantro and very thinly sliced red onion. Though spicy it was well balanced with the richness of the coconut milk and the subtle sweetness of the honey. We finished every morsel of the salad it was that yummy.
