10 Creative Ways To Use Avocados In Your Meals

Avocados are a popular vegetable, though their actually a fruit. They can enrich just about any dish, as avocados are a versatile food.

Avocados have several descriptive words to explain its flavor. Such as a creamy, buttery, and smooth fruit, with distinctive colors like bright yellow and green.

Their aroma can be described as floral, green, grassy, freshness, and earthy. The texture of the fruit is a butter rich melt in your mouth taste and feeling.

California (USA) takes the lead as the producer of domestic avocados and home to about 90% of the nation’s crop.

Most avocados are harvested on about 50,000 acres. Which includes avocado farms from Monterey through San Diego by nearly 3,000 growers.

Both Ventura and San Diego are at the top of the list for producing the larger harvests.

A single avocado tree can produce up to 200 pounds of fresh fruit each year. That’s about 500 pieces fruit, although most average around 60 pounds or 150 pieces of fruit.

How To Pit An Avocado

Pitting an avocado is a simple process if done carefully. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Cut The Avocado

Hold the avocado in your hand and use a sharp knife to cut it lengthwise around the seed. You should feel the knife hit the pit as you cut.

Twist To Separate

Twist the two halves of the avocado in opposite directions to separate them. One half will contain the pit, and the other will not.

Remove The Pit

Hold the half with the pit in one hand. Gently but firmly tap the pit with the blade of the knife so that the knife sticks into it slightly.

Twist the knife to loosen the pit, and it should come out easily attached to the knife.

Remove The Pit From The Knife

Carefully remove the pit from the knife. You can do this by pinching the pit off with your fingers or using a towel or the edge of a cutting board for extra safety.

Scoop The Avocado Flesh

Use a spoon to scoop the avocado flesh out of its skin, either whole or in slices, depending on how you plan to use it.

Always be cautious while handling the knife to avoid injury.

You can also remove the pit using a tablespoon.

How To Keep Avocados From Turning Brown

Avocados can turn brown quickly once exposed to air due to oxidation. Here are some tips to keep them fresh and green for longer.

Use Lemon or Lime Juice

The citric acid in lemon or lime juice can slow down the browning process. Simply squeeze a little juice over the cut surface of the avocado.

Olive Oil

Brush a thin layer of olive oil over the exposed flesh. This creates a barrier against air.

Onion

Store the avocado with a slice of onion. The sulfur compounds in onions can help preserve the avocado.

Plastic Wrap

Tightly wrap the avocado with plastic wrap to limit its exposure to air.

Keep The Pit In

If you are storing one half of an avocado, leave the pit in. It can help slow down browning on the covered surface.

These methods can help keep avocados fresh for a day or two longer, but it’s always best to consume them soon after cutting for the best flavor and texture.

10 Creative Ways To Use Avocados In Your Meals

Avocados are versatile and can be used in various ways in your meals.

Guacamole

Mash avocados and mix them with lime juice, chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and salt for a classic guacamole dip.

Authentic Guacamole

Salads

Simply peel and pit the avocado, then slice or cube it and toss it into your salad. This works well with leafy green, fruit, grain or pasta salads.

Toast

Spread mashed avocado on toast and top with ingredients like cooked eggs, tomatoes, herbs and cheese.

Avocado & Egg Toast

Sandwiches

Using avocado in sandwiches is not only delicious but also allows for creativity in combining flavors and textures.

An avocado can be mashed and spread directly onto slices of bread as a healthier alternative to butter or mayonnaise. It will add creaminess and a rich flavor to the sandwich.

Grilled Cheese Pastrami With Avocado Shallots And Red Roasted Pepper Sandwich

Thinly sliced avocado can be layered on top of other sandwich ingredients. This can add a smooth texture and a subtle, nutty taste.

Three Cheese Pesto Avocado Grilled Cheese

Baked Goods

Substitute avocado for butter or oil in baking recipes.

Generally, you can substitute avocado for butter or oil in a 1:1 ratio. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of butter or oil, you can use 1 cup of mashed avocado instead.

It works particularly well in recipes like brownies, muffins, and cakes where a moist texture is desired.

Give it a try with these Paleo Classic Walnut Brownies. Trade out the coconut oil for puréed avocado.

Paleo Classic Walnut Brownies

Soups

Use diced or sliced avocado as a garnish for hot soups, such as tortilla soup or chicken soup.

South of The Boarder Chicken Tortilla Soup

South Of The Border Chicken Tortilla Soup

The avocados add a fresh contrast to the warm flavors and provide a creamy texture with each bite.

Dressings & Sauces

Using avocados in dressings and sauces not only adds creaminess as their mild flavor allows them to blend well with a variety of other ingredients.

An avocado dressing drizzled over any salad can add extra flavor and richness.

Creamy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing

Using avocados in dipping sauces enhances the flavor and texture of the raw or cooked food dipped into it.

Barbecue Garlic Lemon Vegetable Platter With A Creamy Avocado Dipping Sauce

An avocado dipping sauce pairs with a wide range of ingredients, making it a favorite in both traditional and modern dips.

By incorporating avocados into these different dishes, you can enjoy their unique flavor and nutritional benefits.

10 Creative Ways To Use Avocados In Your Meals