Yummy Kitchen

Avocado

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Avocado, also called ‘butter fruit’, or ‘alligator pears’, with the scientific name ‘Persea americana’ is a native fruit from the Americas under the laurel family growing from an evergreen tree. This fruit has a dark leathery textured smooth skin, a creamy slightly earthy and nutty tasting bright green flesh, with a large pit in the middle. Filled with many nutrients from healthy fats to good carbohydrates, fiber, Vitamin B6, C, E, and K, folate, potassium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, lutein, and magnesium. Which makes up for many antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that are everything good for the body. What else can you get from avocados and how can you enjoy these? Check out the article to find out.

A short Introduction

Avocados, also named ‘Alligator pears’ due to its pear-shape and bumpy leathery skin and ‘Butter Fruit’ from its creamy smooth light green flesh. Is a classified fruit from the ‘Persea Americana Tree’ (avocado tree) that originated from Central America or Mexico, which Mexico is the biggest and leading producer of the fruit. These coming from the Americas were spread through the world during the Spanish conquest, and only got attention from horticulturalists in the 1900’s. It was then developed to be suitably grown in different climates. These are being grown commercially in the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Peru, Columbia, and Mexico. Other countries that have also entered the market include the Pacific Islands, some Mediterranean countries, Israel, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Kenya, Haiti, Hawaii, Chile, California, and Florida.

The taste is subtle, very neutral and is more so earthy and slightly nutty that you can easily manipulate and add to savory, salty, or sweet dishes. This staple superfood loved by many health nuts, vegans and vegetarians, are a great source of good fats, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins that even those with cholesterol and heart problems can add into their diet. A popular ingredient in almost every part of the world, eaten as is, or popularly prepared as the aesthetic breakfast favorite-Avocado toast, a refreshing colorful snack ‘guacamole’, made to thicken up shakes or smoothies. You’ll find a long list of avocado recipes on the internet, from salads, oils, rice mix-ins of toppings, sandwich fillings, pasta sauces, ice cream, drinks, and other confections as either an egg replacement or to add more fiber and moisture into the dish.

Ripe on unripe?

When choosing this delicate fruit from the grocery store or dry market, you’ll have to think about when you’ll be using this ingredient. This climacteric fruit can easily ripen especially in more tropical climates or hot weather.

How to Prepare:

  1. Take a ripe avocado and give it a good rinse if you’d like. Pat dry with a kitchen towel.
  2. Hold it on one hand and on the other, carefully slide the knife vertically. Gliding it around the pit.
  3. Twist the fruit to separate into halves. Take the pit out.
  4. Scrape the middle of the fruit if there are any mushy areas, or if the skin of the pit clings in the middle.
  5. Scoop the flesh or peel away the skin to enjoy creamy green flesh.
  6. Once opened you might find that these brown too quickly. You can remedy this by having a lemon, lime or any citrus fruit on hand. Sprinkle over or mix this into the avocados to avoid discoloration.

Avocado benefits

Is avocado good for you? This almost flavorless but very versatile superfood has a lot of health benefits. Avocado calories amount to around 322 calories per whole avocado. While it might seem high in calories it does help with creating a good balanced diet due to the good fats, fiber, Vitamin C, E, K, potassium and more. Though a low-glycemic food these should still be eaten in moderation.

* Can dogs eat avocados? The pit and skin are dangerous to dogs, the edible flesh itself being a calorie dense food, might cause sudden weight gain, an upset stomach (gastrointestinal problems) and pancreatitis.

Avocado recipes