Avocado is a nutritious powerhouse, whether it's smashed, mixed, or even griddled. It may be eaten for breakfast, lunch, supper, or even dessert. Take a look at these innovative ways to make it your new favorite fruit.
A fully ripe avocado is a thing of beauty. This soft, creamy fruit is delicious in any form: blended, blitzed, crushed, or combined into a smoothie. The avocado, a Central American native, has become more popular in recent years, and for good cause. Despite its calorie and fat content, avocados are high in monounsaturated fats, which may help to reduce the risk of heart disease and cholesterol levels. Learn more how to eat Avocado and nutritional highlights in this article. It's popular in vegetarian cuisine, but it's also great in meat-based meals. Avocados are the green that never fails to please.
How can you know when an avocado is ripe?
Learn about your avos. Only a few of the various avocado kinds are available in UK stores, with Hass, Fuerte, and Pinkerton being the most popular. Here's how to tell which fruits are the best on the shelves:
The squeeze test consists of the following steps:
There's no definite method to determine whether your avocado is fully ripe other than cutting it open, but there are certain telltale signals to watch for, one of which is the hardness of the avocado. Squeeze the fruit gently; it should have a little give but not be mushy or squishy. If you cut it open and it's not quite done, don't worry; you can always prepare it in one of the recipes below. If your fruit fails the squeeze test, ripen avocados in the fruit bowl, preferably next to a bunch of bananas to speed up the process.
The stem test consists of the following steps:
Another way to detect whether your fruit is ready to eat is to examine the color underneath the stem. Remove the little brown stem at the top of your avocado; if it easily comes away and there's a great brilliant green below, you're set to go. If the skin below is dark and firmly clings to the avocado, it's overripe and the flesh won't be at its finest.
Avocadoes in many varieties
Hass
It is the most widely grown cultivar in the world, having a medium-sized fruit with a thick, dimpled green skin that becomes purple-black when mature. The flesh is soft and creamy.
Fuerte
Fuerte has a smooth, brilliant green skin that peels easily when the fruit is ripe, making it longer and thinner than Hass. The flesh is paler than the Hass, but it's just as creamy.
Pinkerton
The Pinkerton, which is often bigger than its relatives, is just now making its appearance on store shelves. The skin is extremely thin, somewhat lighter in color than a Hass, and has a form similar to the Fuerte but with more creamy flesh.
What foods complement avocado?
Avocado's beauty lies in its versatility since it pairs nicely with a wide range of flavors. Avocado pairs well with sweet and savory flavors, as well as strong and moderate flavors.
There are ten new ways how to eat avocado.
1. Smoothie with avocado
Avocado adds significant nutritious value to any fruity smoothie by serving on a green basis. To avoid a guacamole/smoothie hybrid, be careful to combine everything well. Avocado gives smoothies a somewhat nutty flavor. Try it with our kale smoothie or our avocado & strawberry smoothie for a creamy morning drink.
2. Chocolate mousse with avocado
This basic chocolate pudding packs a punch in terms of flavor. Avocado is a natural blender, and its neutral flavor and creamy flesh make it ideal for swirling into a lovely dessert. A very tasty pot of chocolate, peanut butter, and avocado pudding.
3. Muffins with avocado
We all know how good avocado is as a savory snack, but try something new. Bake a batch of this sweet potato, avocado, and feta muffins to use up any ripe avocados that have been languishing in your fruit bowl.
4. Pasta with avocado
Make a lovely green spaghetti dressing with your avocado. Other flavors will not be overpowered by the naturally buttery soft meat. Serve up a spectacular meal with only a dusting of parmesan and a couple of fresh basil leaves, like our wholewheat spaghetti & avocado sauce.
5. Avocado ice cream
There are a plethora of desserts and snacks that don't need baking; avocado is ideal for them. Simply prepare them and keep them in the refrigerator. You'll keep coming back for more of our key lime pie, which features a raw crust and a zesty dairy-free filling. For a delicious summer treat, try these creamy avocado lollies.
6. Avocado stuffed
Fill your avocado with your favorite filling for a quick snack or light meal. Serve it warm with sundried tomatoes, olives, and spring onions, or tuck it into vegetables, beans, and cheese for a fast, protein-rich meal.
7. Sushi with avocado
Any sushi roll would benefit from the inclusion of avocado. Making sushi at home may seem scary, but it's really very simple; test your talents with our smoked salmon and avocado sushi. These rolls are perfect for a lunchbox filler or a little canapé. Choose from our rice & quinoa prawn sushi bowl or our delicate beetroot & avocado nori rolls to create a colorful sushi platter.
8. Avocado on the grill
If you have a bunch of rock-hard avocados that won't ripen, this sticky citrus chicken with griddled avocado and beet salad is the answer. Cutaway the peel with a little knife, then lay your avocados on the griddle. They'll be soft and smokey in no time. In addition, the burnt lines on the skin give them a unique new aspect.
9. Chipotle and avocado
The classic method to eat avocados is to eat them raw. It just takes a few chili flakes and a dash of lime to transform it from zero to hero. Chilli avocado will quickly become your new favorite snack. It also counts as one of your daily five.
10. Chocolate avocado cake
Avocado produces a delicious chocolate cake that is really silky and squidgy. Who'd have guessed?! It's also delicious as a frosting, which you can make with just icing sugar and cocoa powder.