Avocados

[Beth]

I have had fresh avocados in guacamole before, well, I used it once, but that is the only time I remember having a fresh avocado. Well, I bought a couple of them yesterday thinking mayhaps I'll make a dip. Today I decided to cut some up, mix in some sour cream and red pepper hummus, and stuff it into a pita. I was blown away! I simply loved the flavor and I actually feel wonderful. I feel light and crisp, and happy. I had a headache before I ate the thing, but the headache is lifting, my mood is lifting, and I actually feel good after eating for once. Well, I decided to polish off the whole thing, I realize it is full of fat, but I felt like my body might like whatever is in the thing so I ate and I loved the taste just plain.

Since I found a delightful food that my body seems to really like, I think I will include this into my diet with some consistency, but I really don't know a lot about this fruit or about different, economical ways I can eat it. So,...I was wondering if anyone else in here likes them enough to know of some decent recipes using avocado in it as maybe a main ingredient?

[lisarea]

That's so funny, Beth.

Maybe a month or two ago, I got some avocados at the store. I guess it had been a while since I'd had one, because it was just blissful. I'd forgotten how wonderful they were.

As far as recipes, the only one I can remember off the top of my head is these avocado sandwiches I used to make when I was a kid. (Man, I hope I remember this right.)

Spread just a little mayo on some crusty white bread, then pile on sliced avocado with lemon drizzled on it, some provolone, tomatoes, lettuce, and (I think) onion. And some kind of hot peppers. Banana peppers would be good and not overpowering.

I'm racking my brain here, because a) I am probably forgetting something important, and b) I never really make the same thing twice, anyway, so I think they varied pretty considerably. I know I did them in pita bread with salsa and sprouts sometimes, too.

[LadyShea]

I use avacados on any kind of sandwich (especially in pita as lisarea mentioned), and slice them up for tacos and burritos too. Hell, I have been known to cut it in half, remove the pit, dollop a bit of mayo and salt, and eat it with a spoon right out of the skin.

[freemonkey]

Ooooh, I love avocados. I like them sliced or cubed in a salad. I like them in a pocket pita sandwich with cucumber, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce or sprouts and whatever else. I also like them alone, sprinkled with salt and pepper.

Helpful hint: If you don't want to eat the whole thing all at once, leave the peel on what you want to save, rub or sprinkle it with lemon juice, wrap tightly with plastic wrap & refrigerate. This helps keep it from turning that yucky brown.

[AspenMama]

Avocados are delicious. Often my kids will insist on plain slices of avocado with a bit of salt. I am very picky about avocados though. They must be soft and smooth-- no brown spots or little lines running through. They're awesome in salads. Gaucamale is easy enough to make-- just take a couple of good avocados, remove skins and pits, mush with a fork, add a bit of lime juice, salt, dried red peppers, a bit of garlic powder, and some pre-made salsa or diced tomatoes to taste. Serve with tortilla chips, on wraps, on top of nachos.*

*My favorite nachos start with tortilla chips, melted cheddar cheese and whole black beans. Then topped with cool salsa, a dollop of sour cream and guacamole.

I've made this exotic seafood soup before and at the very last second, after the soup is in bowls, tossed in fresh bits of cilantro and chunks of avocado.

Gaucamale turkey bacon tomato sandwiches are delicious too.

[AspenMama]

Helpful hint: If you don't want to eat the whole thing all at once, leave the peel on what you want to save, rub or sprinkle it with lemon juice, wrap tightly with plastic wrap & refrigerate. This helps keep it from turning that yucky brown.
Also try leaving in the pit. No point in trying to save gaucamale though.

[godfry n. glad]

Ah... 'Gator pears.

I'll second every recommendation made here so far...'cept I've never put it in soup, that I'll have to try.

My problem with avacadoes is that they are so....difficult to obtain good, ripe avacadoes that aren't over the hill (y'know, brown, bitter and stringy). When they are on sale, I tend to pick up a ripe one and some less ripe ones so I can spread the joy over a week or so. Then, all too often, they seem to go from hard to spoiled, overnight....

I've found that guacamole, if it has enough lemon juice, will keep for a couple of days if tightly covered.

I do like BLATs (bacon, lettuce, avacado and tomato sandwiches), but my favorite is to halve, remove pit, lightly salt and each out of the skin with a spoon. The whole thing. (It's gooood fat...WeightWatchers told me so.)

I also tend to prefer the fruit with the heavier, more textured, skins over the smooth, lighter weight skins. I have a devil of a time separating the meat from the skin on the latter.

[Weaselboots]

My recipe for Gaucamloe is pretty easy.
I mush the avocados with a fork, so it still has a few lumps left.
Finely dice a onion and add it raw.
As much lemon/lime juice as you can handle (for me thats alot, i can eat the things).
Some pepper and Tabasco.
Can also add garlic, salsa, tomatos if keen.

Spread on toast with lemon juice and pepper.

I make yummy marinated Fetta, some of that on a cracker with avo and pepper is pretty good.

Getting hungry now, stuck at work still for a while.

[Lauri D]

GAH!!!

My grandma has 2 avocado trees that bear plentifully each year, and for the love of dog, I... I... cannot seem to acquire a taste for them whole. However, I *LOVE* guacamole. :lecher:

For a long time I wouldn't even eat them that way; I think it's a texture thing. I'm going to try them with lemon and seasonings as has been suggested, though.

[CARLA]

BETH,

Sweetie Avocados are the best.... :yup: cut them in half, a little salt, and a spoon, then enjoy..!! :cool: They are also excellent on toast.. just a little butter, then spread the avocado on YUMMMMMMM :D

[RevDahlia]

These days I'm subsisting almost exclusively on avocado-and-cheese sandwiches. Avocado, Cheddar or Swiss, mayo and mustard on wheat bread. Simple but extremely good.

I believe in putting avocadoes in just about every sandwich (except maybe pastrami or Philly cheesesteak)

[kensloft]

:spirit:After all these years I'll finally have to fess up to how I used to practically steal avacados to feed me when I was poor. :jail:

It was Toronto and the avacados were coming into the country. They were soo good. Mmmm... mashed, put on whole wheat bread with salt and lemon juice... Mmmm! :yup:

They were expensive so it was tough. Being a vegetarian at the time meant that nutrition was paramount. :boxedin: One day they were no longer any avacados stocked. I usually bought them stuck them in a paper bag and the next day they would be ready to prepare. I was desperate I was going to starve until the new supplies came in. I turned away from where I was and in turning I noticed what looked like avacados sitting on the reduced cart.

I couln't believe it! I went over and, lo and behold, there they were. I was saved. They were that right avacado feel that you know is screaming out for being eaten anytime you want to. You could slice one open and throw on a little salt, lemon or lime juice and practically spread it on the bread. Cutting one in half and just eating it out of the shell was an option.

I looked, almost hit the floor when I realized that my avacados :woohoo: were at a 5 for one ratio. I quickly scored all the rotten fruit. I never went to the manager to tell him that the avacados were in perfect shape.

So for the next several months I would go in and buy the rotten fruits. Eventually, I became inured to thinking about talking to the manager of the supermarket. Now after seeing this thread I have to admit my nefariousness. :cry:

I confess. :weeping: I did it! Forgive me world for I was young and starving. :drowning: Forgive for this crime against the hallowed fruit of the avocado tree. :sadbye: :

[Zoot]

A few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. A few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Some crushed chilli, some crushed garlic, half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of sugar, some oregano, a squeeze of lime juice. Mix that all together.

Cube four tomatoes and one ripe avocado. Chop up half a red onion. Some basil leaves, finely chopped, preferably fresh. Mix that all together.

Then mix them all together and pour over/mix up with some large spiral pasta.

Mmmm.

[Beth]

A few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. A few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Some crushed chilli, some crushed garlic, half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of sugar, some oregano, a squeeze of lime juice. Mix that all together.

Cube four tomatoes and one ripe avocado. Chop up half a red onion. Some basil leaves, finely chopped, preferably fresh. Mix that all together.

Then mix them all together and pour over/mix up with some large spiral pasta.

Mmmm.This sounds wonderful! Thank you. :)

[godfry n. glad]

A few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. A few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Some crushed chilli, some crushed garlic, half a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of sugar, some oregano, a squeeze of lime juice. Mix that all together.

Cube four tomatoes and one ripe avocado. Chop up half a red onion. Some basil leaves, finely chopped, preferably fresh. Mix that all together.

Then mix them all together and pour over/mix up with some large spiral pasta.

Mmmm.This sounds wonderful! Thank you. :)

I'll agree, but I'm not sold on balsamic vinegar. Does red wine vinegar work as well?

Also, if using dried basil, should one include it in the oil/vinegar mix instead?

[Zoot]

I've always used balsamic, and it's more or less the flavour that I'm used to. You could try red wine vinegar. I don't know. And I've almost always used dried basil, and when I did, I mixed it with the cubed tomatoes first and let it settle for a bit before mixing the tomatoes with the rest.

[Petra]

I love avocado!

Someone once told me that avocadoes and olives are foods that you can live on. ie: they have everything you need to remain healthy, their nutritional value is so great. I have no idea if this is true or not.

[Legs]

True story :)

We were having company and I wanted to make fresh guacamole for one of the appetizers so I sent my S.O. to the store instructing him to get 3 or 4 nice, ripe avocados.

He looked at me blankly and said "whats an avocado look like?" :glare:

So I described them as grenade shaped, dark greenish in color and off he went.

An hour later he returned all proud with his shopping bag and proceeded to pour out 5 artichokes on the counter! After I slapped him around a bit for buying the wrong grenades I stuffed these artichokes with some breadcrumbs and garlic, drizzled them with olive oil and grilled them to perfection.

[godfry n. glad]

"Grenade-shaped?"

Hand-grenade sized, mebbe, but I consider them to be pear-shaped. And sized. Have you ever heard it referred to as an "alligator pear"? It's looks like a pear with dark green alligator-like skin.

...and...don't they put signs on things at your grocery store?

[pescifish]

While I was reading the story, I thought he was going to bring back some kiwis.

[RevDahlia]

While I was reading the story, I thought he was going to bring back some kiwis.
I was hoping it'd be cherimoya, (http://cherimoya.orcon.net.nz/600x800.html), which definitely look military-issue if not strictly like grenades.

[pescifish]

...which definitely look military-issue if not strictly like grenades.No shit, they sure do! :drillsgt: I'm gonna be on the lookout for one of those, RevDahlia. Definitely looks interesting. :yessir:

[CARLA]

LUNACHICK,

I agree, I love Avocados.. I just eat them right out of the skin. Olives are another favorite of mine. Both have so many vitimins in them..I'm glad to hear that my passion for both won't kill me. :D :D

I love avocado!

Someone once told me that avocadoes and olives are foods that you can live on. ie: they have everything you need to remain healthy, their nutritional value is so great. I have no idea if this is true or not.

[RevDahlia]

...which definitely look military-issue if not strictly like grenades.No shit, they sure do! :drillsgt: I'm gonna be on the lookout for one of those, RevDahlia. Definitely looks interesting. :yessir:
They're pretty tasty, if not quite as orgasmic as the copy on that site would have us believe. But if they turn up at your local grocery, definitely give them a spin.

One time I was shopping at the supermarket in my old 'hood, which inexplicably had an excellent produce section despite sucking massively otherwise. I was perusing the mango selection when I spied a small child nearby, who was transfixed by the cherimoyas. "Look, Mommy!" she said to her parental. "Dragon eggs!" Awwwwww.

[Legs]

I made this tonight and ate the whole thing myself :yup:

1 Avocado
1 Grapefruit
1 Papaya

In a bowl mix the three fruits that have been diced into bitesize chunks with this dressing.

Dressing - 2 tablespoons grapefruit juice, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey

It is a delicious combination and I feel like a million bucks right now.