Posted on 26th Jun 2026

Alternate Ways To Cut Mango and Cucumbers

Alternate Ways To Cut Mango and Cucumbers is a knife skills tutorial inspired by street food techniques from Thailand and India. This Alternate Ways To Cut Mango and Cucumbers guide shows you how to julienne an unripe mango cleanly against the stone and how to fine dice a cucumber while keeping it mostly intact for control and precision.

These techniques focus on stability, control and using the natural structure of the ingredient to guide your knife. While traditionally done in the hand by experienced street vendors, this version adapts the methods safely for the home cook.

Cuisine

Chinese

Time

Servings

people

Ingredients

1 firm, unripe mango
1 cucumber

Sharp knife
Stable chopping board

Method

PREPARATION

Julienne Mango

Peel one half of the mango first to create better grip and friction.
Slice a thin flat edge off the opposite side so the mango sits securely on the chopping board.
Using a crab grip, slice thin vertical cuts down towards the stone. Allow your knife to gently hit the stone to guide even depth.
Once fully sliced across, trim the end so the mango can stand upright.
With the flat base stable, use long sawing motions to slice downward again, creating fine matchsticks. The stone will help maintain consistent thickness.
Turn the mango and repeat on the other side. Trim around the stone carefully to maximise yield.

This technique works particularly well with firm mango or green papaya for savoury salads.

Fine Dice Cucumber

Trim one side of the cucumber to create a flat stable base.
Slice lengthways into even strips, leaving about 1cm uncut at the base so the cucumber remains attached.
Rotate the cucumber and slice lengthways again to create a grid pattern, still leaving the base intact.
Turn the cucumber crossways and slice downward to release evenly diced cubes.
For the final section, adjust your knife angle slightly so you can keep hold of the end while completing the dice.

This method keeps the cucumber together for control and produces evenly sized cubes quickly and safely.

COOKING

School of Wok Tips

• Always create a flat base before cutting for stability.
• Use the mango stone as a natural cutting guide.
• Leave the final centimetre intact when grid cutting cucumber.
• Focus on consistency of slice thickness for professional results.

FAQs

Can I use a ripe mango for julienne?
It is possible, but firmer mango works better for clean matchsticks.

Why leave the cucumber base intact?
It keeps the structure stable while creating even dice.

Are these techniques safe for beginners?
Yes? As long as you keep the produce on the chopping board and maintain proper knife control.