AVOCADOS
AVOCADOS
A
Versatile, Buttery Rich Fruit
I was elbow-deep in my plate of tacos
when I spotted the mound of pale-green mud on my friend’s plate. I was 18 and remarkably
uninitiated in the ways of guacamole, and I wonder now if I had ever even seen an avocado
at that point in my life.
When I inquired about the “mud,” my
friend described the flavor as being similar to grapes and offered me a taste.
While describing any unknown flavor as
grapelike is about as unthreatening as it gets, I still declined the sample
that day. Fast-forward to today: I was a lot older, but somehow less mature, and I couldn’t imagine a life
without avocados. Yes, that sounds extreme, so let’s just say I like them a
lot.
Avocados offer a buttery richness and
refreshing quality that pairs well with many foods. Contrary to the way they’re
eaten in the United States, avocados actually are fruits, and other parts of the world treat them as
such, often incorporating them into fruit salads, milkshakes, and smoothies
(sugar and chocolate are natural complements). But I would venture a guess that
even overseas, guacamole wins out in popularity.
I load avocados on salads and sometimes
pile salads into their pitted halves, purée them to make dressings and sauces, and
occasionally serve them as tempura with a vinegary soy sauce. And, yes, I make
guacamole, too.
But before they can be enjoyed, avocados
must reach a state of perfect ripeness. When shopping, it’s best to buy
avocados unripe, very firm, and with the stem intact. Avocados ripen off the tree; their firmness prevents
bruising in transport, and the stem helps restrict oxygen from getting into the
avocado, which discolors and softens the flesh. Allow avocados to ripen on the counter until they give lightly
when pressed. If you’re not ready to use them once ripened, you can refrigerate
them to pause the ripening process.
And while I don’t typically eat foods
strictly for their health benefits, avocados warrant a bit of a shout-out.
Although they’re calorie dense—comprised of a high percentage of beneficial
monounsaturated fat—avocados are rich in vitamins and minerals. Their
consumption is thought to improve cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of
metabolic syndrome, and promote satiety. Their
oils and minerals also are great for the hair and skin, which is wonderful news
for me because I have skin where my hair used to be, a side effect of fast-forwarding through the years.
All Fitness __ AVOCADOS
Bryan Roof, RD, LDN, is a chef,
dietitian, and food writer living in Boston.
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