Nowadays people are becoming more health conscious. “Healthy” foods like yoghurt, granolas, and quinoa are getting attention from those who are seeking to incorporate a more balanced diet into their lifestyle. Avocados are one of those items that are gaining popularity from this shifted lifestyle trend. At first glance, this fruit might seem out of reach, foreign, and exotic. However, I can assure you that integrating avocados in your life is easier than you think! I’m a self certified avocado enthusiast and you’re about to read all you need to know about the basics of avocados.
Health Benefits of Avocados
Avocados are a great source of essential vitamins such as Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6. They are rich in fiber which aids in digestion and helps you feel fuller for longer. They contain healthy monounsaturated fats that can help lower bad cholesterol levels. As well as nourish skin, hair, and nails. Additionally, they’re high in potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke. With its low-carb and high-fiber nature, you can enjoy avocados as a guilt-free midnight snack. Great choice if you’re working on that summer body *winkwink*
How to cut open avocados
Before you cut open an avocado, it’s best to check if it’s ripe enough for consumption. Here are some simple ways you can check whether your avocado is ready
Check the skin color: A ripe avocado should have dark green, brownish or black skin
Give it a gentle squeeze: A ripe avocado should be soft when you apply gentle pressure around the stem
Check the stem:
- If the stem comes off easily and looks green underneath, your avocado is ready to go
- If the stem doesn’t come off easily, remove it and check the color underneath. If it’s green, the avocado is ripe. If it’s brown, it’s overripe, and if it’s white, it’s not yet ripe.
Pro-tip: Avocados generally have a life shelf of about two weeks and they tend to overripe very easily. If you feel your avocado start to get soft and you don’t want it to spoil you can slow down the ripening process by refrigerating it. If you’re impatient and want to speed up the ripening process, put your avocados in a paper bag, add a few more fruits like apples or bananas and close the bag.
If she’s ready-steady eat-me-already, here’s what you should do
Step 1 : Slice the Avocado
Use a sharp knife and cut lengthwise around the avocado. Stick the knife in and rotate the avocado with your other hand so that the blade slices all the way around the pit.
Step 2 : Remove the Pit
Twist the two halves in opposite directions to separate them. Hold the avocado half with the pit firmly with one hand and carefully strike the pit with the blade of the knife. Twist the knife to remove the pit, it should come right off.
Step 3 : Removing the flesh
Depending on the item you are cooking, you can either scoop the flesh out with a spoon, slice it, or dice it.
If your avocado is at the perfect ripeness, you can also peel the skin off the flesh. This way, you can easily make a row of thin slices which are perfect to throw on your piece of toast. However, this method can cause a lot of mess and is not recommended if your avocado is more on the riper side.
Fun Fact: Avocados are berries! Many people tend to mistake them for vegetables, but from a botanical perspective, avocados are classified as a type of berry because they have a fleshy pulp and a seed in the center. This is similar to other berries, such as blueberries and strawberries. However, unlike most berries, avocados have a tough, inedible skin.
Simple Meals You Can Make With Avocados
Avocado is a versatile ingredient that can be found in many popular dishes around the world. It is featured in many traditional cuisines such as Mexican, Japanese, and American. Some well known food menus that feature avocados as the star of the show are guacamole, avocado shrimp ceviche, and California sushi rolls. If that sounds a bit too fancy for your for your little home kitchen, fear not! Here are some beginner items you can try cooking at home.
Avocado toast
Toast bread and spread mashed avocado on top. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and any desired seasonings or toppings, such as sliced tomatoes, bacon, cheese, or a fried egg. This item requires very minimal prepping time and can be enjoyed as breakfast or a light snack. If you like, top the whole thing off with thin slices of avocados to get that signature avocado texture.
Avocado Chocolate Mousse
Blend a ripe avocado, cocoa powder, and honey in a blender. Slowly add milk until all the ingredients are evenly mixed and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Scoop the mousse into serving dishes and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Top with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or mixed nuts to your liking. If you’re lactose intolerant like me, you can make this recipe vegan by simply swapping the dairy for almond or pistachio milk.
Fun Fact II: The skin and pit of avocados contain a toxin called persin, which are safe for humans but dangerous to dogs and cats. While its safe for animals to ingest the green flesh, it’s best to keep avocados away from your pets.
Frozen Avo-cubes
Cut a ripe avocado into cubes, throw the pieces to a bowl and toss with 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice (depending on the size of the avocado) to prevent browning. Put the prepped avocados in a zip lock, Tupperware, or air seal it then put the bag in the freezer. Alternatively, you can also mash up your avocados put them in ice blocks
You can dip the pieces in honey and enjoy it as a healthy popsicle substitute, use them as dessert toppings, or add them to your smoothies
This also doubles as a great way to preserve your avocados. When frozen, they can stay in your fridge for as long as 6 months, and you can defrost them to make a bunch of other menus.
Avocado Sashimi
In Japanese cuisine, avocado sashimi is a simple yet popular menu. It lets you experience the natural taste and texture of avocado with simple seasonings. Peel and cut the avocados into thin slices. The creamy, delicate slices of avocados are enjoyed with soy sauce, wasabi, and other optional toppings like salt, shalllot, chilli powder, and seaweed. It a is simple yet enjoyable delicacy.
Baked Avocado Honey
Bake your avocado face up in the oven for 5 minutes with nuts and grains of your choice until the avocado starts to brown. Remove from the oven, crush and sprinkle the mixed nuts over the avocado and give it a drizzle of honey. The rich sweetness of honey goes well with the avocado, the baked flesh of the fruit is warm, buttery, and slightly savory.
Where can I get avocados..?
Depending on where you live, avocados can be generally found in grocery stores, supermarkets, and farmers markets.
If you live in Thailand, Macro is one the cheapest place you can get avocados from. However, they tend to be severely underripe and can be quite a gamble. The safest place to get avocados are Tops supermarket and Central food hall. They’re a bit pricier but definitely worth the quality. Since avocados have become a trend in the past year or two, chances are you’ll find it at nearby grocery stores and local markets wherever you are. You can also purchase avocados online from supermarket delivery services as well as e-commerce platforms like Shoppee, Lazada, and Amazon.
Pro-tip II : If you live in Thailand, you can find Thai avocados at local markets. They are much cheaper than imported avocados with only a slight difference in taste. Imported avocados tend to have a mild, creamy, and buttery flavor with a subtle sweetness and occasionally a hint of bitterness. Thai avocados are generally a bit more bitter. If you’re on a budget, it might be a good idea to use Thai avocados as a substitute. It is recommended that you use them in recipes that include strong ingredients that can mask the raw flavor of avocados. I promise you wont taste the difference.
Get Creative!
There are numerous benefits in adding avocados to your meals, from its high nutrient content to its ability to enhance the overall taste of the dish. They’re a versatile and tasty addition to any diet. Whether your cup of tea is savory, sweet, traditional, or fusion. Avocados can give traditional and simple dishes an extra kick in taste, texture, and nutrients.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, don’t forget to pick up some avocados and let your imaginations run wild. Maybe you’ll end up falling in love like I did.
For more creative avocado recipes checkout this website https://avocadosfrommexico.com/recipe/
As a great avocadist once said
“If loving avocado is wrong,
I don’t want to be ripe.”
Me
Would you try avocados if you had the chance? If you’ve tried it, what do you think?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and share it with your friends. Avo great day!
ps. If you want to share your devotion, dedication, everlasting love, and burning passion for avocados with someone or just want some advice on avocado food prep checkout my profile down below and hmu on instagram