Zoku with a kick – Mango Cayenne Pepper

Warm weather reminds me of Mangoes and I love seeing the boxes of mangoes at the local grocery stores.  These boxes of joy remind me of my childhood where mangoes were plenty and the days consisted of playing outside and sleeping under the stars.  I remember eating 5-6 mangoes a day as a kid! Yum!  Now I know better to not consume so many mangoes per day (too much natural sugar!) but if I see a good mango it is hard to resist.

I picked up a box of mangoes recently and guess what we made at home with them?  Zokus!  Zoku has become a verb in our home.  Simone often asks, “Are you Zokuing mummy?” whenever we make these pops.

So here’s a recipe on the spicy side inspired by the Mexican Street Vendors in LA who serve their fruits with chili and lemon.

3 heaping tbsp of fresh ripe mango

3 tbsp milk (I used whole milk but you can use 2%, whole milk, goat milk, soymilk – anything you like)

1 tsp cayenne pepper powder (adjust according to your preference)

Blend everything together and fill the Zoku till the fill line.

The Verdict:  This is hot!  And I mean that literally.  You don’t taste the chili until a few minutes after you take a bite. It is not unbearable, it just has a kick. Simone tried it and she didn’t complain till after the bite was done and then she made a face and didn’t take another bite.  So this Zoku is meant for adult and children who like things with a kick!