The subtleties of choosing avocado

The exotic fruit of avocado is recognized as the most nutritious fruit, for which he was honored in the Guinness Book of Records.It contains so many vitamins and minerals that it began to be attributed to the super-food. But love overseas fruit not only for the benefit, but also for the unique taste and aroma. One he resembles nuts, another spicy herbs, the third - pine needles. If you have not tried avocados, then you should definitely do it.

How to choose a really ripe fruit to feel the whole rich palette of taste. Consider the main features that distinguish a really ripe fruit, as well as other nuances of choosing avocado.

This exotic fruit growing on Persei American trees may look different: to have an oval, spherical or pear-shaped shape. The skin tones are different and depend on the place of growth: from pale green to almost black. In the section visible bone, which can occupy about half of the entire fruit, and light yellow flesh oily texture.

Fruits contain fiber, vitamins K, E, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, thiamine, retinol, pantothenic and folic acid, niacin. A trace element in it just a storehouse: iron, calcium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, and this is not a complete list.

There are three groups, which are divided into all the fruits of avocado: Mexican, Guatemalan, West Indian. Of the 400 varieties of this exotic fruit, only three varieties are commonly found on the shelves of our country: "California", "Florida" and "Pinkerton". The first is the Guatemalan group. These are the very nearly black Haas avocados with very soft and oily contents.

"Florida" grade or "Hall" refers to the West Indian group. It often rains in his homeland, so these fruits have a more fresh, sweetish taste, and the flesh has a more watery one. Smooth, light green, they are hard to clean, have a medium-sized core, and the percentage of pulp in them is quite high. Pulp "Hall" does not fall apart when cutting, so it is great for making rolls and salads. They are usually sold in winter.

"Pinkerton" in its properties is a cross between two other varieties. Soups, smoothies, desserts are made from it. To some, its taste resembles meat, which is why it has gained popularity among vegetarians. Fruit is used instead of meat in various dishes. The important advantages of Pinkerton are its small bone and ease of cleaning, you can remove the skin from a ripe fruit with your hands.

As you have already learned, the choice of avocado depends largely on what dish you want to make from it. Different varieties have different properties. Now we decide how to understand when buying a ripe fruit in front of us, or not.

• The first thing to do is to press down on the skin of the fruit. It should take a little, and then return to its original form. If the fruit is not ripe, then when pressed, the peel does not bend - it will need to be held for several days before ripening. On overripe fruits, on the contrary, there are dents.

• If you shake the fruit, you can hear the sound from the bone. If you have not heard anything like this, it means that the fruit is not too ripe or of poor quality.
• Determine the quality of the fruit in appearance. Inspect the alligator pear skin. It should have a uniform color without spots and points. Unwanted and external damage.

Remember these simple rules - with the help of them you will choose only the most delicious avocados.

To find a ripe but not spoiled avocado is a great success. Most often on the counters are exactly unripe specimens, thus, sellers insure themselves against losses, because ripe fruits quickly deteriorate. At home, they need to be kept in a cool place for a couple of days to allow them to ripen.

Many do not try to check the condition of the fetus when they buy it, and even when they begin to clean it. The fact that the fruit is immature, it becomes clear only in the process of use. Too hard pulp and its bitter taste indicate that the fruit is clearly not reached the desired condition.

If the fruit looks elongated at the place of the stalk, it will ripen on a tree, in natural conditions, and will be very good. Eat it immediately, until it deteriorates, and for storage for the future, leave only the immature fruit.

Here are some other tricks that fans of the alligator pear should know.

• When you see that the fruit should lie down for another day or two, but you want to eat or cook it right now, send it to the oven for a few minutes. So the flesh will become softer and tastier. Before that, cut it into large pieces, sprinkle with lemon, so as not to darken and salt.
• If you have a night of ripening, then there is such a simple way: put the avocado in a paper bag with bananas. Apples and pears are also suitable. It is believed that they can accelerate ripening, as gas is released from them - ethylene.

• How to store sliced ​​fruit. Put the pieces in the refrigerator in an airtight container with half an onion, it will help keep freshness and color. You can also rub them with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. This will prolong the lobules life at least for a day. It is important not to store them in bowls filled with water - this will lead to rapid deterioration.
• Your avocado is overripe and is no longer suitable for food. Do not rush to throw it. From the pulp can make an excellent hair mask. Collect it and distribute it through your hair with a rare comb. After that, thoroughly wash your hair with shampoo.

For fans of a healthy lifestyle and even vegetarians, avocados are the most valuable product. Although it is a fruit, it contains a lot of protein. If we talk about people on a diet, the overseas fruit becomes for them one of the products of choice. After all, sticking to a modest diet, they often receive less vitamins and nutrients.

"Haas" and "Pinkerton" are the most caloric - their nutritional value can reach 380 kcal per 100 grams of product. Despite the fact that all avocado varieties have a low glycemic index (10 units), this caloric content does not bring you closer to the goal - a slim body. Best for dietary fit their Florida counterparts. Watery, tender and sweetish, they perfectly quench thirst and saturate the body with vitamins and microelements.

Usually, avocados are cut lengthwise and halves are turned in the opposite direction. After that, the bone is immediately removed from it, since it contains many toxins and, when interacting with air, they are actively released into the pulp of the fruit. A ripe copy can be eaten directly from the resulting "boats" with a teaspoon.

Also, ripe fruit can be cleaned like this: make cuts on the halves, reaching the peel, but not piercing through it. After that, the halves are easily inverted, and the flesh is peeled off the plate.

See how to peel and slice the avocado in the next video.

Everyone has already heard about cold and warm salads with this exotic product. We offer to your attention an unusual in content and design option of vegetarian olivier, which is served directly in avocado halves.It will help to diversify your healthy menu and it will be most welcome during fasting, because there is neither meat nor seafood in it. For its preparation is better to choose "Florida" avocado.

Ingredients:

• potatoes - 4 pcs .;
• carrots - 2 pcs .;
• pickled cucumbers - 2 pcs .;
• avocado - 2 pcs. (one for sauce);
• canned peas - 100 g;
• onions - 1 pc .;
• Apple - 1 pc .;
• salt and herbs to taste;
• lemon juice - 1 tbsp. l .;
• vegetable oil - 100 ml.

Finely cut the boiled potatoes, carrots, as well as cucumber, onions and avocados. Apple cut very finely. Fruits need to sprinkle with lemon juice, so as not to darken. Mix them in a bowl and add the peas. Now prepare the sauce.

Cut in half the second avocado, remove all the pulp from it with a spoon, without damaging the skin. Put it in a blender, add salt and lemon juice, you can sweeten a little sugar and whisk. Now add vegetable oil and repeat the procedure. Combine the ingredients with the resulting sauce and put the salad in “boats” made from the rind of the fruit.

Speaking of avocado dishes, you can not ignore the recipe of the sauce, which is so popular in the homeland of this fruit - in Mexico. This guacamole is versatile and diverse in composition. Prepare it easy, enough to stock up on ripe fruits. Guacamole is eaten with tortillas (corn tortillas), chips, crackers. In addition, it is an unusual side dish for meat and fish, sauce for mashed potatoes and pasta.

Ingredients:

• olive oil - 5 tbsp. l .;
• chili pepper - 2 pcs .;
• avocado - 6 pcs .;
• spices - to taste;
• Shallot - 2 pcs .;
• lime - 2 pcs .;
• cilantro - 2 bundles.

Divide the avocado into two halves and remove the pulp with a spoon. Beat with a mixer until mashed. Chili peeled seed and chop with a knife. Also chop the onion and greens finely. Pour the lime juice into the resulting mass and combine it with olive oil and mix well.

Original, elegant and beautiful appetizer - julienne avocado. Dietary this dish can not be called, but it is an excellent option for holidays and special occasions. You will not need much time to prepare it, but it will definitely impress your household or guests.

Ingredients:

• avocado - 1 pc .;
• champignons - 200 g;
• onions - 1 pc .;
• cream of 20% - 150 ml;
• grated cheese and spices to taste.

Cut the fruit of medium ripeness into two "boats" and remove the core. Carefully remove the pulp with a small knife or spoon and knead slightly. Fry onion, mushrooms and avocado contents in butter for 5 minutes, pour the cream. Salt and pepper, leave the mass to simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.

It remains to put it all in half, sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in the oven at 180 degrees. After 10 minutes the exotic julienne will be ready.

It is very sweet, but it contains few calories. All thanks to strawberries and honey - they make this drink just as appetizing as dessert. To keep slim, drink it instead of breakfast every morning.

Ingredients:

• lime - 1 pc .;
• nonfat yogurt, milk - 2 glasses;
• mint - 8 leaves;
• strawberries - 600 g;
• honey - 2 tsp;
• avocado - 2 pieces;
• lemon juice - 4 tbsp. l .;
• Gooseberry - 0.2 kg.

Prepare the pulp of ripe avocado and put it in a blender along with the berries. Beat the mixture at low speed, gradually pouring yogurt. Now squeeze the lime juice and mix with the cocktail. Put mint there and add honey to taste, if it is solid - lightly melt before adding. Again, beat everything thoroughly to a smooth consistency.