i bought an avocado - what do i do with it?

[yum]

HI all, after reading how many people love avocadoes i bought one yesterday and i have no idea how to eat it? Do you cook it? What with ?

ideas would be great...(and also how to prepare it!)

yum
x

[Korn]

This!

[Risker]

Is it ripe? it should be soft but not squidgy, if it's too hard you'll need to wait a while for it to ripen.

Put a knife into the middle of it until you hit the stone in the center, then run the knife all the way around it. Once you've done that you should be able to twist the two halves apart. Remove the stone and use a spoon to scoop the flesh out.

You can cook with it, it's not overly common though, usually I just cut it up and put it in a salad/sandwhich.

If it's over ripe and has gone squidgy then it's perfect for making guacamole which there's loads of recipes for.

[harpy]

I think they taste funny if you actually cook them although you can heat them up briefly. I sometimes mash them, put on a slice of half-toasted toast, thinly slice or grate Cheezly (the melting kind) on top, sprinkle with Tabasco and put back under the grill until the Cheezly starts to melt.

The simplest way is just to halve it as described by Mr Risker, put a spot of vinaigrette in the halves and eat them like that, with a spoon. Or slice into a salad with leaves and seeds.

[yum]

Thank you. I didn't realise people mainly eat them raw. I'm quite fussy but i'm trying to try new foods. I might give it ago raw then this lunchtime (i don't like guacomole).

x

[harpy]

Hope you enjoy it, yum. I remember being a bit shocked the first time I had one. They used to call them avocado pears and so I think (as we've discussed here before) I was expecting it to be like a pear, which it certainly ain't! I really like them now though - and so do a couple of our cats

ETA some people do cook them; if you Google "baked avocado" you'll see a few (mostly non-vegan) recipes. But it doesn't do anything for me.

[harpy]

BTW I just Googled for "cats avocado" and found some pages saying that you can buy cat food made with avocado and others saying that avocado can be toxic to cats

Fortunately my cats are quite eclectic in their tastes and are just as enthusiastic about e.g. broccoli and mashed potato...not that that's all they have.

[xrodolfox]

I love avocado!

I spoon it out, add some salt, and a tiny tiny bit of lemon. Then I mash it up, and put it on toast with fresh tofu.

If you can figure out what to do with Avocado, send some my way! My kids and I can't get enough!

[rantipole]

I like them on a sandwich with hummus. Also, I like to steam spinach, chop an avocado and toss in, and top the whole thing with Annies' Goddess Dressing (although any tangy dressing will probably work).

They are also good chopped up on chili or any beans and rice dish.

Enjoy!

Cheers,
rant

[eco]

I just eat it with a spoon, I don't add anything to it, I like it just the way it is. You can put the stone into some soil in a pot, it'll grow into a really nice plant. http://uktv.co.uk/gardens/item/aid/527459

[AnneCE]

Don't forget to rub the insides of the skin on your hands - best moisturiser there is.
I eat mine with a drop or two of chilli sauce... Can't wait for summer when they are cheaper.

[missbettie]

the BEST way is to just open it sprinkle with a little salt and eat with a spoon. mmmm or on toast with veganaise...mmmmmm

[vava]

if all else fails stick it in a smoothie

[yum]

oooh lots of ideas. Thanks everyone!! I still haven't brought myself to try it yet.

[Cherry]

Chopped up in salad is good too, or sliced in sandwiches/on toast. Good in a vegan bacon sandwich.

Just don't go trying to peel it with a vegetable peeler like my mum They come out of the skins easily when they're ripe - you just peel it off.

[harpy]

It won't bite you. The only tricky thing is getting them at the right moment because if they're too hard or too squishy they're 'orrible. It should just give a bit when you touch it.

[yum]

Thanks harpy it is hard at the moment and has some brown dots on it lol! I put it in the fridge

[missbettie]

its ripe when it feels like a mango, the riping process slows when it is in the fridge too. and you can keep the pit in it if you don't finish it and it will slow down the browning process, though it is still good once it browns....

[auntierozzi]

I like them on toast, mashed raw with a bit of miso.

I also like to fry up some garlic and chilli in olive oil then mix with freshly cooked pasta and mashed avocado..Might do that now actually ;-)

[Stu]

I like them on a sandwich with hummus.

What he said.

You can put the stone into some soil in a pot, it'll grow into a really nice plant. http://uktv.co.uk/gardens/item/aid/527459

Whoa - avocados do indeed rock.

Don't forget to rub the insides of the skin on your hands - best moisturiser there is.

The humble avocado continues to amaze us!

Thanks harpy it is hard at the moment and has some brown dots on it lol! I put it in the fridge

Nooooooo, that won't help it ripen. Stick it near the window for a couple of days or so.

[emmapresley]

you can also mush them up with dates, chocolate/carob powder and bananas to make a splendid pudding

i love them just on their own..or smashed up with finely diced tomatoes, red onion and a bit of salt and fresh basil..yum!

[cobweb]

sorry to say that my answer would be either "throw it away" or "give it to someone you don't like"

[harpy]

To ripen them I generally put them in the airing cupboard, although they do seem to ripen eventually in any case. Not sure why yours has black spots at this stage though yum!

cobweb, do you see them much where you are? When I were a lad in Glasgow they seemed to be unheard of.

[Enchantress]

When I were a lad in Glasgow they seemed to be unheard of.

...and here's me thinking you were female.

[harpy]

Just shows you shouldn't leap to conclusions It's really an allusion to some ancient joke, but I can't remember the joke now

[cobweb]

Harpy, no, they aren't seen much in Scotland, well not where i have lived anyway, and i haven't met one in Orkney (thank god!). I had the 'pleasure' of eating one in Wales.

[yum]

To ripen them I generally put them in the airing cupboard

Thanks ...I best go get it out of the fridge then!

sorry to say that my answer would be either "throw it away" or "give it to someone you don't like"

Not a fan Cobweb?

[quote=emmapresley;430481]you can also mush them up with dates, chocolate/carob powder and bananas to make a splendid pudding
[quote]
Mmmmmmmmm i might try and make a pudding...yum! I think i could be persuaded by adding banana and chocolate- greta combo- definate winner!!


x

[emmapresley]

[quote=yum;430561]



[quote=emmapresley;430481]you can also mush them up with dates, chocolate/carob powder and bananas to make a splendid pudding

Mmmmmmmmm i might try and make a pudding...yum! I think i could be persuaded by adding banana and chocolate- greta combo- definate winner!!


x

hehe..that is unintentionally apt!

dont go storing them in the fridge though..that's not right!!

hope you enjoy what you make

[Sluggie]

I used to mash them up with bananas for my babies.

I prefer mine with mustard and balsamic dressing though.

[fiveqs]

Slice em up with cucumbers, green onions, and whatever else you like and put em in... SUSHI!!!
Paul Q

[Roxy]

I say mashed on toast with a sprinkle of salt and pepper! Or make a pasta salad and throw cubes of avocado in that. It gives the salad a nice creamyness.

[Tigerlily]

I like to chop them up, mixed them with tomatoes, cilantro, and chickpeas, season with salt+pepper and lots of lime juice. Yummy-in-my-tummy salad!

[Roxy]

Mmmm that sounds good!

[Aradia]

I like avocado sandwiches on a really nice seeded bread and just a touch of harissa or chilli paste.

Also love them in rolls with sliced tofu that has been marinated in soy sauce, ginger, sweet chilli sauce and garlic and then roasted.

[Ruby Rose]

Sliced in a crusty brown roll with sliced up tomato, basil leaves, salt and balsamic vinegar. Yum yum, Yum!

If they're not ripe when I buy them, I put them in a carrier bag with bananas for a day or so. I guess the airing cupboard or a warm windowsill would be a slightly less weird option to do the same thing!

[Mr Flibble]

Don't waste it in guacamole, take the sandwich option.

[Aradia]

If they're not ripe when I buy them, I put them in a carrier bag with bananas for a day or so. I guess the airing cupboard or a warm windowsill would be a slightly less weird option to do the same thing!

Nowt weird about that. bananas exude .. .um... can't remember what it's called.... but it ripens fruit.

So if you have a bowl of already ripe fruit, don't but bananas in it as it will turm them more quickly. That's why a lot of fruit bowls have a banana hook, so you can suspend them above the fruit.

[Haniska]

Alton Brown from good eats had a nice recipe for an avocado milk shake Milk, avocado, vanilla and sugar. Tastes disappointingly (to me) like a vanilla milkshake. If that is your fancy though I'd go for it.

[yum]

Thanks for all your lovely ideas- i will summon up the 'courage' to try it tonight.

xxx

[harpy]

And...? You can't keep us in suspense like this

[flying plum]

est - i didn't realise it was that easy to grow an avocado plant. totally going to try that next time i have one. it'll look good next to my yucca and chilli plants

[emmapresley]

absolutely easy to grow..

slit the avocado stone around and push in toothpicks on either side then balance it on the top of a jam jar with water in so that the base of the stone just rests on the top of the water..top it up if necessary..wait til it takes root then plant it and nurture it.

i grew a huge avocado plant a few years back..however it just went UP..quite spindly..lovely lush leaves..obviously no avocados (not warm enough to produce fruit)..it just got taller and taller

uh..its dead now..i'm not that great at growing stuff then keeping it alive

[Cherry]

Lol EP. I'm trying to grow two at the moment. Nothing's happening yet but it can take ages, can't it?

I had one on toast at the weekend...thought of you, Yum!

[flying plum]

absolutely easy to grow..

slit the avocado stone around and push in toothpicks on either side then balance it on the top of a jam jar with water in so that the base of the stone just rests on the top of the water..top it up if necessary..wait til it takes root then plant it and nurture it.

i grew a huge avocado plant a few years back..however it just went UP..quite spindly..lovely lush leaves..obviously no avocados (not warm enough to produce fruit)..it just got taller and taller

uh..its dead now..i'm not that great at growing stuff then keeping it alive

ok...could i have an illustration? i'm obv too dumb to understand that explanation!

re:spindliness...in the tropics avocado 'plants' are actually giant trees, so maybe that's why? or at least, the one in our garden was. only gave fruit once every three years or so. no avocados for ages, then more than one could ever humanly eat!

amanda

[missbettie]

I live in avocado country! the trees take a long time to actually produce the fruit, at least the kind of trees we have here. I think it could take about 10 years but I may be wrong.

[yum]

And...? You can't keep us in suspense like this

Sorry Harpy i am about to try it (i think i have an issue with trying new vegetables

right will be back in an hour or so to tell you what i thought

x

[emmapresley]

ok...could i have an illustration? i'm obv too dumb to understand that explanation!

re:spindliness...in the tropics avocado 'plants' are actually giant trees, so maybe that's why? or at least, the one in our garden was. only gave fruit once every three years or so. no avocados for ages, then more than one could ever humanly eat!

amanda

i shall draw you one on paint and fnd a way to get it on here

oh flippin eck yum..there's only half an hour to go till you put us out of your virgin avo eatery experience expense..thingy

[yum]

Yuck

that was mushy and yucky....*spits it out*

[Stu]

Maybe it was too old. Please don't give up on the avocado, Yum!

[yum]

Awwww cheers Stu. It had gone abit brown in a part of it but mum sound that is normal and to cut it out. Maybe it was too overly ripe it was like squidgy butter