Addictive avocado

With people becoming more and more conscious about staying fit, many health food have replaced conventional ingredients in the kitchen. One such fruit that has become quite famous now is avocado.  With over 250 varieties, avocado is the hot favourite of everyone who is a fitness freak. You ask why? Well, this pear shaped fruit, which is also known as alligator pear, provides close to 20 essential nutrients, including Vitamin E, potassium, fibre, folic acid, B-vitamins, zinc and various proteins which are essential for the body. In fact, research has found that certain nutrients are absorbed better when eaten with avocado.

Another interesting point to consider here is that avocado oil has one of the highest smoking points. It is rich in oleic acid and contains very healthy fats. Avacado’s creamy texture makes it an easy replacement for butter, cheese or mayonnaise. However, make sure that the avocado you pick are raw, wrap them in paper and leave it on the kitchen shelf to have the ripe creamy fruit next day. Raw or overripe avocados do not have the same texture, and can be distasteful as well. Here are a few recipes that you can try with the healthy avocados.

Kale and Avocado Salad 

Ingredients 

6 black kale/lacinato kale, deveined and chopped into strips
1 ripe avocado 
4 halves of sundried tomatoes cut into strips 
¼ of a small onion cut into strips 
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
Salt and pepper to taste 
1 tsp olive oil 

Method
Mash avocado into kale strips along with salt and pepper leaving some chunks of avocado. 
Then add sundried tomato, onion and top with pumpkin seeds. Serve with steamed potatoes or as a filling into a sandwich. This salad is a gooey one as kale leaves get wilted when massaged with avocado.

Avocado smoothie

Ingredients
½ avocado 
½ cup coconut water/water/almond milk
1 banana 
A handful of organic spinach or kale
2 dates soaked in enough water to cover them

Method 
Blend all the ingredients smooth, along with the water used for soaking the dates. Adjust consistency and sweetness with dates and any of the fluids.

Choco-Avocado Mousse

Ingredients
1 ripe avocado 
2 tbsp raw cacao powder 
10 dates soaked in enough water to cover them
1 tbsp coconut oil 

Method
Blend all the ingredients together smooth. Don’t use all the dates soaked in water at once. You might end with a chocoavo smoothie. 
If you desire the mousse to be sweeter, you can use some stevia leaf powder. 
Serve it in bowl.

Guacamole with a twist 

Ingredients
1 ripe avocado gently mushed 
4 soaked cashews made into a creamy paste 
A squeeze of lime, to prevent oxidation of avocado
2 tbsp chopped tomatoes 
1 tsp finely chopped onion
1 tsp finely chopped coriander 
1 small green chilli, finely chopped
Salt to taste

Method
Mix them all gently and enjoy as a side to crispy anything, spread on bread, rotis etc.