Mango Braided Pastry

Mango Braided Pastry

Braiding pastries have become popular for several reasons, a mix of visual appeal, taste, and even cultural significance. Braiding is also a way for bakers to express their creativity, connect with tradition, and create delicious and visually stunning treats. We just happened to have some mangoes and since we always have puff pastry on hand, we decided on this.  We hope that this Mango Braided Pastry recipe post inspires you. 

Mango Braided Pastry

Ingredients

• 1 puff pastry sheet (I used Pillsbury)
• 2 very ripe mangos
• optional
• pure maple syrup
• walnuts

Directions

1. Allow 1 puff pastry sheet to thaw and start to soften-but not so much that it is completely room temp.
2. You want it just soft enough that it is pliable and you can work with it.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
4. Wash the outsides of the mangos and then slice them into thin strips, we love Champagne mangos (also known by a few other names such as honey mangos, and yellow mangos…) and try to pick up a few when they are available.  They are smaller than the green and pink mangos you would more commonly see at the market.  Two full mangos were the perfect amount for one puff pastry sheet.
5. Once the puff pastry is soft enough to work with, make angled cuts down each side out from the center (see pictures)
6. Lay the mango slices down the middle, uncut, section so they are layered on top of each other (picking up whole sections at a time will make this faster and neater).
7. Start at the top and fold over the first piece of the cut pastry.  Followed by folding the second side over so it covers the end of the first piece.  Go back and forth down the sides until you are at the opposite end, then tuck in the ends.
8. Brush the top with a bit of pure maple syrup and sprinkle with crushed walnuts.
9. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until fully puffed and golden brown. I baked this on parchment paper, on an open-air pizza style trying to make sure the bottom of the pastry would bake as much as possible, this is not required though.

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Why Braid Pastries?

There are several reasons why braiding pastries has become so popular:

• Visual Appeal: The intricate braids add a beautiful and unique element to any pastry, making it more visually appealing. Braids can be simple or complex, and the variety of designs adds to the visual interest. This makes them perfect for special occasions or when you want to impress guests.
• Texture and Flavor: Braiding creates layers of dough, which in turn creates pockets of air. This leads to a flakier, puffier pastry with a more interesting texture. Additionally, the braids can trap fillings like jams, fruits, or savory spices, adding bursts of flavor and making each bite different.
• Versatility: Braiding can be adapted to a wide variety of pastries, from sweet pies and tarts to savory breads and calzones. It can be used with different doughs and fillings, allowing for endless creative possibilities.

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe Puff Pastry

• Accessibility: The basic braiding technique is relatively simple to learn, and there are numerous tutorials and resources available online. This makes it accessible to home bakers of all skill levels, allowing them to add a professional touch to their creations.
• Social Media Factor: The stunning visuals of braided pastries are perfect for sharing on social media, which has helped to spread their popularity. People are inspired by the beauty and creativity and often want to try them out themselves.
• Cultural Significance: In some cultures, braiding pastries holds cultural significance and is associated with tradition, celebration, or community. This adds another layer of meaning and interest to the practice.

Overall, the popularity of braiding pastries stems from a combination of aesthetic appeal, texture and flavor enhancement, versatility, accessibility, and cultural significance. It's a technique that allows bakers to express their creativity and create delicious and visually stunning treats. We hope that this Mango Braided Pastry recipe post inspires you. Happy baking!