Avocado: useful properties and uses, recipes

Avocados are known for their mild flavor and health benefits. Due to its rounded-oblong shape and green skin, the nickname “alligator pear” stuck behind it. It is also called "forest oil", because the pulp of ripe fruits is so tender that it can be easily spread on a sandwich. In ready-made dishes, this fruit unobtrusively emphasizes the taste of other ingredients, and is also appreciated by gourmets as an independent product.

Let's try to figure out what its value is, and who should include avocados in their diet.

This exotic fruit reaches a length of 5 to 20 centimeters. Its flesh is pale yellow, and the peel is green (during ripening, it becomes darker, turning into almost black).

However, fruits that are too dark are not recommended to be eaten, as they are overripe and may be spoiled. The exception is the popular Haas variety, for which this color is considered the norm.

"Alligator pear" loves high temperatures and humidity, but does not tolerate strong winds. The most suitable conditions for growing avocados are in their historical homeland - in Mexico. In addition, the climatic conditions of Africa, Brazil, the USA, Spain and Israel are favorable for growing fruit.

After studying various ancient sources, scientists concluded that a person has been familiar with this fruit for at least 12 thousand years. Historians find the first mention of avocados by studying the life of the Aztecs, who appreciated the nutritional properties of avocados growing in the forest and began to grow them near their homes. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac. Europeans learned about this fruit only in the 16th century (after the conquests of the Spaniards).

At that time, with a fruit size of 4-5 cm, the stone accounted for about half of the entire area, so breeders began to work on improving avocado varieties. So, in the second half of the 18th century, they managed to create a variety with a high pulp content and a single fruit weighing more than a kilogram.

Gradually, the fame of a fruit that tastes like a nut spread throughout the world. It began to be mass grown in Indonesia, Brazil, the USA, in the East, Australia, South Africa, etc. At the beginning of the 20th century, they tried to grow it in Russia, but the climate of our country was not suitable for mass production of fruits. Today, Russian suppliers buy it from foreign partners - this is enough to meet consumer demand.

In ancient sources, many references to avocados have been preserved.As it turned out, the fruit has different names: for example, the Incas have a “palta”, European sailors have “midshipmen’s oil” (since avocado is well spread on crackers), in India it is a “poor man’s cow” (the fruit satisfies hunger well and helped survive hard times). The name "alligator pear" was widely used in England.

The benefits of fruit are undeniable. Avocados are a storehouse of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium and manganese. In addition to minerals, it contains vitamins A, B, C and PP. Separately, it is worth noting the high content of vitamin E in it, as it is a powerful antioxidant that allows the body to maintain youth for many years. It is believed that it contains the daily rate of this substance, which allows you to slow down and reduce the rate of aging of body cells.

Also found in the fruits of avocado (or American Persea), which helps to absorb calcium, vitamin D, which is quite rare in nature. There are only a few products that contain this substance.

Many people know avocados, first of all, as a dietary product that you can safely include in your diet for weight loss. This is because this exotic fruit contains neither carbohydrates nor harmful fats, and sugar and fruit acids are almost completely absent.

Its glycemic index is low (only 10 units), while the calorie content is about 250 kcal per 100 grams of product. In this way, they can be easily satiated, while getting a maximum of vitamins and a minimum of calories.

If you are on a diet, then you should definitely pay attention to the type of fetus. So, fruits with very dark skin have a higher calorie content than others.The differences are due to climatic conditions: for example, in a humid tropical climate, more watery fruits with light skin grow.

Avocado helps fight the enemy of the heart and blood vessels - cholesterol. It is recommended for a person with cardiovascular diseases, like no other, since this miracle fruit not only prevents the formation of cholesterol in the blood, but also destroys the existing one. At the same time, useful monounsaturated fatty acids bring a feeling of fullness and speed up metabolism.

Doctors especially recommend eating a miracle fruit for men. Thanks to avocados, they are halved the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by high blood pressure and sugar, as well as obesity. This is due to the presence of oleic acid (omega-9) in avocados, which fights low density lipoproteins. It is also indispensable for the cells of the brain and nervous system.

The usefulness of avocados for children is not as obvious as for adults. Despite all the useful properties of this fruit, it is worth considering the age of the child. Babies under 3 years old are prone to allergies, which means that it is worth giving them food with caution.

So that the avocado does not harm you, be sure to remove the stone from it as soon as you cut it. The fact is that the toxins in its core begin to become more active upon contact with air.The sooner you remove it, the better. Also carefully peel off all the skin - it should not get into the finished dish, as it is also poisonous.

Despite all the usefulness, avocados are not advised to use in the presence of allergies, as well as for nursing mothers and those who have an individual intolerance to this product. There are also diseases in which it is worth using the "alligator pear" with caution. These are, first of all, diseases accompanied by diarrhea.

With gastritis with high acidity and an ulcer during remission, it is worth choosing overripe fruits that will not greatly irritate the walls of the stomach. If you want to reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid, then it is better to eat steamed avocados. With pancreatitis and cholecystitis, you can add avocados to the menu six weeks after the exacerbation.

Buying avocados, consumers, first of all, study the color of the fruit - usually dark shades of the skin indicate a high ripeness of the fruit. But this is not always the case. Some fruits have a darker color due to the characteristics of the variety. Consider the popular varieties of avocados that can be found on the shelves of our markets and supermarkets.

• Florida fruits are light varieties. Since the humidity in this state is quite high, the fruits grow less fat here. They are sold from autumn to spring and are often used in the preparation of today's popular rolls.
• "California" always darker, which means more oily. They are good to add to puree soups, spread on sandwiches, put in cocktails.The variety is on sale at any time of the year.
• "Pinkertons" may or may not be fat. They differ in skin with irregularities and a small core - accordingly, there is quite a lot of pulp in them. You can cook from such fruits any dishes in which avocados are added.

Gone are the days when avocados were only found on restaurant menus. Now it is not difficult to find this fruit: it is present on the shelves of all supermarkets. Many housewives have already tried recipes with avocados and adopted them. We will tell you what simple snacks and complex culinary masterpieces you can create with this exotic fruit.

The range of dishes that can be prepared with the addition of avocados is quite wide (despite the exotic nature of this fruit and the taste peculiar to the fruit). First, let's recall how to prepare the fruit for further cooking.

You need to cut the fruit into two parts and remove the core. As mentioned above, when in contact with air, the bone quickly releases toxins, which means that it must be removed immediately. After that, you can simply cut the fruit into slices and eat it, but we will look at more interesting and unusual ways to use it.

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind from dishes with avocados is salads. Their choice is wide: from simple to complex with exclusive gas stations. Popular recipes include seafood, cheese, poultry, olives, citrus fruits, and other fruits. It can be not only the usual cold, but also warm salads.

We will need:

• chicken breast - 2 medium fillets (total weight - half a kilo);
• avocado - 1 pc.;
• pickled cucumbers - 2-3 pcs.;
• parsley 1-2 tbsp. l.;
• salt to taste;
• mayonnaise - 1.5-2 tbsp. l.;
• mustard with grains (French) - 1 tsp;
• apple cider vinegar - 1 tsp;
• honey - 1 tsp

After boiling the breast, leave it in the broth until it cools (so that it does not lose its softness). Cut chicken and avocado into equal small pieces, mix with parsley. Add the cucumbers, which need to be cut smaller than the poultry and avocados. Mix mayonnaise, mustard, honey and apple cider vinegar with a fork and add to salad.

This Japanese dish is often made with avocados. Rolls can be served as cold appetizers, and they can also be baked. Any variations are in great demand today: for example, a simple and refreshing roll with cucumber and avocado. And in Philadelphia, beloved by many, an exotic fruit perfectly sets off the taste of fish. In general, the combination of this fruit with the gifts of the ocean can be called a classic.

We will need:

• rice - 200 g;
• rice vinegar - 2 tbsp. l.;
• salt - 20 g;
• sugar - 20 g;
• salmon - 120 g;
• cheese "Philadelphia" or "Mascarpone" - 35 g;
• avocado -15 g;
• cucumbers - 15 g;
• nori sheets - 1 pc.;
• pickled ginger - 25 g;
• soy sauce - 30 g;
• sesame - 2 g.

Before you start making rolls, see what kind of rice you have. It is necessary to purchase a round-grain variety, since a long-grain variety is usually drier. Also, you should stock up on a special mat that helps to form products.

To begin, rinse the cereal thoroughly under cold water until it is clean.Take a pan with a thick bottom and put rice in it, pour cold water - 250 grams of water should fall on 200 grams of rice. Keeping the proportions is very important, as we need to get a certain consistency. When the rice comes to a boil, reduce the power to low and cook until the rice has absorbed all the water. After removing the pan from the heat, leave the grits to stand under the lid so that it swells (this will take 5 to 10 minutes).

To prepare the marinade, you need to combine a couple of tablespoons of rice vinegar, 20 grams of salt and sugar. After putting the dressing on the fire, wait until it warms up a little, and then cool it. Now you can add the resulting marinade to the rice and stir so that it is well saturated. It should become pliable enough to make rolls.

Cut the peeled avocado and cucumber into strips, salmon into thin slices. Fill a pastry bag with cream cheese. Spread the rice on the nori sheet so that some of the rice “peeps out” on one side, and then turn the sheet over, lay out the finished cucumber and avocado straws, cream cheese and roll up. Top the roll with salmon and secure with a mat. Slice, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve with soy sauce and ginger.

First courses with avocados may include seafood. To prepare such an exotic soup, the fruit is crushed and whipped with a blender. It turns out a very nutritious and healthy dish, which, moreover, will delight the eye - a great option for a romantic date by candlelight.

We will need:

• avocado - 4 pcs.;
• water - 4 tbsp.;
• cream 10% - 100 ml;
• shrimp - 300 g;
• dry white wine - 2 tbsp. l.;
• salt and pepper to taste.

Boil the peeled shrimp, separate the pulp of the avocado and beat it with a blender with cream. Now pour the resulting puree into the boiling shrimp broth. Add wine, spices and, turning off the stove, sweat a little until it cools.

There is another popular version of avocado soup with a simpler broth, such as chicken. The fruit itself, chicken, onion, cilantro is pre-cut. Products are laid out on plates. Then all this is poured with pre-prepared chicken broth.

Since ripe fruits are easily whipped with a blender and release juice, you can easily prepare a snack dish from them - smoothies. It is especially popular with fans of diets, because due to its nutritional value, such a drink perfectly saturates and does not add extra centimeters to the waist. In order to get as much as possible satiated, having consumed only one smoothie, it is recommended not to drink it, but to eat with a spoon in small portions. And for those who are not worried about their weight, we can recommend delicious smoothies with ice cream, toppings and syrups.

Thanks to the rich set of vitamins, microelements and other beneficial substances in avocado, any cocktail based on it can be called a real beauty drink, because with its regular use, the condition of the skin and hair improves.

We will need:

• avocado - 250 g;
• banana - 200 g;
• honey - 5 ml;
• flax seeds - 20 g;
• filtered water (or low-fat yogurt) - 250 g.

Put the banana slices, avocado, warmed honey and flaxseeds into a blender bowl. Beat until smooth, add water (or yogurt) and beat again.Just a few minutes, and a tasty and healthy drink is ready.

For many, the avocado is still a mysterious exotic fruit, about which nothing is known. Therefore, we bring to your attention some interesting facts about avocados that you might not know.

• The fruit was included in the Guinness Book of Records. This honor was given to the fruit for its excellent nutritional properties. No wonder it is so valued by nutritionists and lovers of a healthy lifestyle.
• Avocado is a relative of the bay leaf. The American perseus plant, from which the avocado fruits are harvested, is a relative of the most common laurel. These trees belong to the same family.
• The peel and pit of the fruit are very poisonous. The fruit must be well cleaned before use. Otherwise, you can get severe poisoning.
• Avocado is a meat substitute for vegetarians. There is so much protein in this fruit that it can easily replace animal food in the diet.
• The fruit cannot be boiled for a long time, because with a long heat treatment it will start to taste bitter. It is preferable to eat the fruit raw. If the recipe for the dish involves cooking, then let the avocado be in boiling water as little as possible.

• Not all green avocados can ripen at home. As a rule, unripe fruits are sold in stores and it is recommended to keep them at home for several days in a paper bag. Also, to speed up ripening, some put them in a plastic bag with a banana or apple. But if the fruit was not transported correctly and rotted, then ripening can never be expected.
• Avocado is a fruitful plant. One Persea American tree produces up to 300 kg of fruit every year.
• In ancient times, the aborigines gave newlyweds a lot of avocados. This was done so that the couple would have more children.All due to the fact that the "fruit of love" has aphrodisiac properties.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to love avocados. This nutritious and healthy fruit will give you health and help prolong youth. Due to its composition, rich in useful substances, it helps to fight many diseases.

See the following video for the secrets of making four-course avocado toast for breakfast.