Buzz
Avocados are rich in potassium, vitamin E, lutein, beta-sitosterol, and other essential nutrients. These nutrients are believed to help prevent eye diseases, reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and keep the skin hydrated. Avocados are easy to prepare, easy to eat, and can be enjoyed in many ways. Below are a few recipes worth trying.
Ingredients
Ingredients that can be added to avocado
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Fresh lemon juice
- Lime juice
- Paprika
Mashed Avocado for Spreading on Bread
- Avocado
- Bread, toasted bread, English muffins, bagels, or waffles
- Sliced cucumber
- Sliced kiwi
- Sliced tomatoes
- Feta cheese
- Poached eggs
- Dried red chili
- Salsa
Avocado Dip (Guacamole)
12 servings
- 6 large avocados, chopped
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 1 tomato, diced
- 180 ml Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- 2 green chilies, diced
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) lime juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
Avocado Soup
16 servings
- 3 large or medium avocados
- 1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream
- 2 cups (500 ml) chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lime juice
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) finely chopped shallots
Steps
Preparation: Peel and chop the avocados
Slice the avocado in half.
Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado pit.
Alternatively, insert a knife into the pit to remove it.
Remove the avocado in chunks. Use a small knife to cut the flesh into squares. Slide the knife beneath the chunks and cut as close to the skin as possible.
- Avoid cutting through the avocado skin.
Scoop out the flesh of the avocado. Use a metal spoon or ice cream scoop to extract the avocado flesh. Twist and turn the scoop to remove each section, using the edge of the spoon to scoop.
- Avoid touching the avocado skin when scooping out the flesh.
Cut the avocado into slices. Use a sharp knife to slice the two halves of the avocado. Gently use your fingers to separate each piece from the skin.
- Avoid cutting through the skin entirely. However, if you accidentally cut into the skin, you can still pry the slices away from the skin.
Eat the fresh, raw avocado
Slice the avocado according to your preference.
Eat the avocado without any preparation. When consuming the raw avocado, you might experience aftertastes like "smoke" or "nutty" flavors.
- This can be a delicious snack during summer months when avocados are in season and at their peak flavor.
Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on the avocado. One of the most popular ways to enjoy avocado is by sprinkling a little salt over the slices. The salt enhances the natural flavor of the avocado and boosts the overall taste of the dish.
- If you're unsure how much salt to use, start with about 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of sea salt per avocado.
Sprinkle some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and salt on fresh avocado. If you prefer a mixed flavor, you can try another popular method of enjoying avocado by sprinkling olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the slices. A pinch of salt and black pepper will round out the flavor of the avocado.
- Start with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for each avocado. Use 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of salt and ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of black pepper for the same amount of avocado.
Squeeze a little lemon or lime juice over the avocado. The citrusy taste of lemon or lime juice complements the subtle smoky flavor of the avocado, creating a new and exciting taste.
- Use lemon or lime juice to your liking. If you're unsure how much to add, you can start with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of lemon juice per avocado.
Spice up the avocado with paprika. If you enjoy a bit of heat, a pinch of paprika powder will do the trick.
- Start with ½ - 1 teaspoon (2.5-5 ml) of paprika powder, and feel free to adjust to your taste.
Mashed avocado spread for toast
Mash the avocado flesh until smooth enough to spread.
You can also use a food processor. If you prefer a smoother texture, you can blend the avocado using a food processor on a low setting for about 30 seconds.
- Don't blend the avocado for too long. Over-blending might result in a runny texture instead of a mashed consistency.
Spread mashed avocado on bread. Mashed avocado on bread is a tasty and nutritious choice for a variety of whole-grain bread slices.
- In addition to regular bread, you can also spread the avocado on toasted bread, bagels, scones, and English muffins.
Add extra toppings to the avocado. If you find the pure flavor of avocado a bit bland, you can enhance it by adding some toppings. For instance:
- Sliced cucumber
- Sliced kiwi
- Sliced tomatoes
- Feta cheese
- Poached eggs
- Dried red chili
- Salsa
Use mashed avocado instead of mayonnaise. If you're seeking a healthier alternative, you can use mashed avocado to spread on sandwiches or wraps instead of mayonnaise. Some delicious options include:
- Turkey sandwich
- Meat and vegetable sandwich
- Grilled chicken sandwich
- Soy bread sandwich
Avocado as a dipping sauce (Guacamole)
Prepare the ingredients.
Mash the avocado.
Mix the remaining ingredients. Add the rest of the ingredients and use a large spoon to mix everything well until fully combined.
- It's easier to blend everything together if you add smaller ingredients like garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt first, ensuring they mix evenly with the mashed avocado before adding larger ingredients. However, the order in which you add the ingredients doesn't matter much.
Serve with tortilla chips. The avocado dip should be served immediately. Tortilla chips are a popular accompaniment.
- To store the avocado dip, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the avocado. Wrap another layer around the bowl to seal it. The dip can be kept in the fridge for a few days to a week.
Avocado Soup
Remove the avocado from its skin. Use one of the methods outlined in this article to take out the pit and peel the avocado.
- For avocado soup, it's more convenient to scoop the avocado out of its skin than to cut it into cubes or slice it beforehand.
Add avocado, cream, chicken broth, salt, and lime juice to the blender. Place all ingredients into a regular blender or a large food processor and blend until smooth.
- Blend at medium speed for 1-2 minutes. Stir and continue blending if needed.
- If you prefer a lighter dish, you can substitute coconut milk or soft tofu for the heavy cream and vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Add salt or lime juice to taste. Taste the avocado soup. If you want a stronger flavor, you can add salt or lime juice.
- Start with adding ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) of salt at a time.
- For lime juice, add 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) at a time.
Chill for 30 to 60 minutes.
Garnish the soup with finely chopped chives before serving.
Advice
- Hass avocados are one of the creamiest varieties, making them perfect for mashed avocado spread, dips, or any recipe that calls for mashed avocado. Other avocado varieties are firmer and are best eaten in slices or chunks.
- To choose a ripe avocado, gently press on the skin. A ripe avocado will feel heavy for its size and won't have any dark spots on the skin.
What You'll Need
- Cutting board
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Small eating knife
- Metal spoon
- Mixing bowl
- Fork or potato masher
- Food processor or blender
