Avocados are in fashion – bloggers, celebrities, and the internet in general is going crazy for this fruit. But why this sudden burst of popularity?
We blame Gwyneth Paltrow, who compared her gluten-free avocado toast to “your favourite pair of jeans – so reliable and easy and always just what you want.”
The avocado is a unique type of fruit. Most fruit consists primarily of carbohydrate, while avocado is high in healthy fats. It is nutritious, containing 20 different vitamins and minerals.No cholesterol or sodium, and low in saturated fat.
Avocados and avocado oil are high in monounsaturated oleic acid, a “heart healthy” fatty acid that is believed to be one of the main reasons for the health benefits of olive oil.
But being a healthy food is not all this fruit can do. It has uses in beauty!
It can become a great face mask. If you want to moisturise without the synthetic chemicals found in drugstore products? Avocados can go outside the bounds of the kitchen. Squish an avocado and mix it with another natural moisturiser, such as coconut oil. Slather the mixture on your face, and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. This works for your hands as well.
The mild-flavoured fruit has since inspired a hashtag, #avocadoobsession, accompanying Instagram and twitter photos depicting the latest confections created by hipster followers of the avocado boom.
To leave you with a good taste in your mouth, here are three unusual and easy avocado recipes:
1. Avocado Ice Cream:
- 12 ounces avocado flesh, about 3 medium specimens-worth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Halve the avocados, remove pits and use a large spoon to scoop out the flesh.
- Place avocado, lemon juice, milk and sugar in blender carafe and puree until smooth.*
- Reduce blender speed to low and slowly add the cream.
- Chill the mixture in an air-tight container until it reaches 40 degrees F or below, 4 to 6 hours.
- Process the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions. This mixture sets up very fast, so count on it only 5 to 10 minutes to process to soft-serve consistency.
- Serve immediately or harden in freezer for 3 to 4 hours for a firmer texture.
2. Kiwi Avocado Smoothie with Lime and Honey
- ½ perfectly ripe large avocado
- 2 kiwi- peeled
- ⅛ C lime juice + 1 T
- ⅛ C-1/4 C Almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, aloe juice, fruit juice- just enough to get the blender going.
- honey to taste 1-2 T
- 2-3 ice cubes
- Place the liquid in the blender first, then fruit and ice. Cover. Start on low speed, increasing to high speed. Blend it up until creamy and smooth.
- And remember, don’t ever stick a spoon or spatula in blender while it’s running.
- Makes one 10 oz glass.
3. Baked Egg in Avocado
Ingredients
- Avocado
- 2 Eggs
- Sea salt & pepper
- Seasoning or bacon, optional
Directions
- Cut avocado in half, remove pit. If necessary scoop out some avocado to make room for egg.
- Crack eggs into a bowl. Place yolk and some egg white (with a spoon) into the avocado’s hole.
- If you want, you can sprinkle some bacon on top of it, for some extra deliciousness.
- Bake in oven on 425 for 13-15 minutes.
Now go in to the world to enjoy this healthy and tasty food!
