Avocados Aren’t Just for Guacamole

Have you had your Alligator Pear today? You have if you’ve eaten an avocado! Avocados are the large fruit of the avocado tree.

Did you know that avocados are in the same family as cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel?!

If you enjoy guacamole with your Mexican meals, you’ll want to have plenty of this fruit on hand.

Avocados come in a number of varieties, or cultivars, including the Hass (which is most well-known), Gwen, Lula, Pinkerton, Brogden, Ettinger, Fuerte and Zutano. Each variety has a different appearance and will also have a unique flavor. Most stores carry the Hass avocado but you may have problems finding some of the other cultivars.

Some Health Benefits of Avocados

While some people will shy away from avocados because they’re supposedly high in fat, you would be amazed at the health benefits of choosing to eat them.

Avocados are reported to help keep inflammation under control. They are also believed to help the digestive tract and is a monounsaturated fat which has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.

This article from Healthline has 12 Proven Health Benefits of Avocados.

Other Ways to Enjoy Avocados

It isn’t uncommon to think that guacamole is the only way to prepare avocados. However, there is so much more you can do! Add diced avocado to your salad to not only improve the flavor but also add health benefits.

You can also make salsa with avocado, tomato, mango, pineapple, onion and jalapeno peppers. It might even surprise you to find out you can use avocados to make ice cream and add them to smoothies!

One of our favourite ways to enjoy avocado is mashed on a toasted slice of sourdough bread, topped with fresh ground pepper and salt and a sprinkle of hemp hearts or sesame seeds. Add a couple slices of tomato or eggs and it is so yummy!!

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How Do You Tell When an Avocado is Ripe?

You can tell if an avocado is ripe by holding it in your hand and gently squeezing. It will yield slightly. The best way to cut it is by slicing around the length of the avocado and then twisting the halves to expose the seed. To remove the seed, carefully poke the tip of the knife into the seed and twist. You can also use a spoon to remove the seed. Squeeze behind the seed to remove the seed from the knife blade.

Consider learning more about avocados. They are delicious, nutritious and a wonderful addition to your family’s diet. Made into guacamole, salsa or eaten raw, your family will enjoy this exotic fruit.

Related Posts:

• How to Choose the Perfect Potato
• Getting To Know Your Peppers
• Peaches Aren’t Just For Dessert
• The Secrets to Growing Big Healthy Pumpkins

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