What Avocado Can Do To Your Family; It’s Benefits

What Avocado Can Do To Your Family

Avocado which is colloquially called Alligator pear has lots of benefits for you and your family. I want to believe that most of us know that avocados are packed with nutrients and this fact has led to the general consideration of Avocado as Super food. But knowing what to do with the many parked nutrients in avocado is not always easy if you don’t try and explore it. This wonderfully creamy, rich, smooth-tasting fruit is typically confined to guacamole for our nachos and burgers, but it really does deserve to take centre stage in our kitchens.

I try to eat half an avocado every day, because I realised I just feel better when I do. I found them on sale awhile back for 50p each and scooped up twenty of them for breakfast smoothies. As the week went on, I realised I had more energy and my digestion improved greatly, so I decided to make them a part of my daily routine. High in potassium, folic acid, B6, vitamin C, fibre, and vitamin E, avocados are said to support healthy skin and promote healing. They have also been cited as beneficial in reducing bad cholesterol.

So, knowing that I would soon get bored of avocado smoothies, I started looking at other uses for my new best fruit and was surprised to learn how versatile they are.

Healthier baking

Avocado is a great substitute for butter when baking as two tablespoons contain a meagre 50 calories and 4.5g of fat. Whereas, the same amount of butter contains 204 calories and 23g of fat. You can replace 50-75% of butter in most cake recipes with avocado and you won’t notice a difference as long as you puree the avocado before adding it to the cake batter. It’s also delicious spread on toast and topped with a poached egg.

Down the hatch

Adding avocado into your favourite margarita, martini or daiquiri recipe couldn’t be easier. Just peel, puree and mix it up! You’ll be getting your daily dose of yummy goodness and well-deserved tipple in one go. Could there be a better night in?

Finger food

Hosting a party and really care about your friends? Well, make sure they stay energised throughout the evening by serving avocado appetisers. Try cherry tomatoes stuffed with cream cheese and small chunks of avocado, smoked salmon and avocado blinis, avocado stuffed mushrooms, or some retro devilled eggs with a modern twist.

Soups and smoothies

You really can’t beat an avocado smoothie. It doesn’t matter what’s in the smoothie, the avocado makes it really thick and creamy like a milkshake, but much healthier. I like to combine it with nut butters, banana, skimmed milk, or strawberries.

You can also use avocados in hot or cold soups such as vichyssoise, which is a French potato soup or add slices of it to bowls of hot and spicy Asian broths as the subtle flavour pairs well with strong spices such as ginger.

You don’t have to eat them

I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to eat them, but if there’s no convincing you then you could use them as part of your beauty regime. Try placing slices on the bags under your eyes for half an hour and you’ll notice an instant improvement, or nourish dry hair with an avocado hair mask. Simply combine the flesh of an avocado with a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and 50g of Shea butter, apply to the roots and ends of your hair and rinse out after 30 minutes.

Chococado smoothie (serves 2)

Breakfast in a glass, perfect for the early morning commute or freeze in ice lolly moulds for the kids. This smoothie is very moreish, so be warned!

Ingredients:

2 bananas, peeled and chopped

1 avocado, peeled and chopped

150ml of milk

1 teaspoon of runny honey

2 teaspoons of cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Throw everything into a blender and pulse until smooth. Add extra milk if you prefer a thinner smoothie.

2. Pour into glasses or ice lolly moulds and call it good.

Avocado chocolate cake (serves 12)

This cake is seriously rich and definitely one for the adult palate. Serve it as dessert and your dinner party will never be forgotten.

Ingredients:

200g of 90-100% chocolate

150g of ground almonds

125g of golden caster sugar

1 large avocado, peeled and pureed

100g of butter

6 eggs

Directions:

1. Melt the butter and chocolate in a bain-marie or microwave.

2. Add the ground almonds, half the sugar and the avocado to the chocolate mixture and stir to combine.

3. Whisk the eggs and remaining sugar until they double in size and stir the beaten eggs into the chocolate mixture until they are fully combined.

4. Pour the batter into a 10-inch cake tin lined with baking paper and bake at 160C / Gas 3 for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out of the cake without any wet batter attached to it. Cool in the tin.

Avocado daiquiri (serves 2)

This drink is ideal for warm evenings in the garden or just celebrating the fact that the kids are finally asleep.

Ingredients:

½ an avocado, peeled

Juice of 1 lime

2 glasses of ice cubes (around 200g)

70ml of white rum

Directions:

1. Put all of the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

2. Pour into two glasses and garnish with lime wedges or a sprig of mint. Enjoy immediately.