Avocado fruits are similar in shape to a pear, their sizes are from 5 to 20 cm. However, unlike pears, their peel is denser and has a dark green color. The taste of avocado is soft and exotic, reminiscent of herbs and nuts.
The second name for avocado is "alligator pear". The fruit is mainly composed of monounsaturated fatty acids. They have a beneficial effect on the heart, blood vessels and lower cholesterol levels. In addition, avocado contains vitamins A and E, which are very beneficial for the skin. Thanks to vitamin E, avocado is an effective anti-aging agent. The fruit has a good effect on the functioning of the digestive system. After its use, the intestinal microflora normalizes, motility improves, and constipation disappears.
The ripeness of the fruit determines its taste. So, a ripe fruit resembles butter with a flavor of herbs and nuts. The flesh of an avocado is tender and oily; you can spread it on bread and make a sandwich. An unripe fruit is of no nutritional value, since it has practically no taste or smell. If you press down on the avocado and it is firm, then the fruit is unripe. The flesh of the avocado is light green on the inside, although the outside may be almost black. A ripe avocado turns into an oily gruel. It can be used in salads as a substitute for mayonnaise.
There is a bone inside the avocado: it is not used for food. Substances that the bone contains are hazardous to human and animal health. Due to their ingestion, allergies and even food poisoning can occur.
Avocados are most popular in vegetarian cuisine. It can be added to various salads instead of meat and eggs. An example is the Olivier vegetarian salad. To prepare it, you will need: 1 avocado, 3 potatoes, 1 carrot, 2 pickled cucumbers, 100 g of green peas, 100 ml of sour cream, 100 ml of vegetable oil, 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. mustard powder and salt to taste. First, cook the vegetables, namely the potatoes and carrots. Then peel them and cut into cubes. Now rinse the avocado and cut in half. Remove the pit and cut the fruit into cubes. Strain the peas from the liquid. Put all the components of the "Olivier" in a deep salad bowl. Make a sauce: Combine sour cream, honey, mustard, sunflower oil and salt. Whisk the mixture well with a blender. Pour the resulting sauce over the salad and stir.
Try not to sit the avocado dish for a long time, as the flesh will soon take on an unpleasant brown or gray tint. Therefore, prepare avocado dishes just before serving. If you don't like the taste of avocado, add lime juice to it. This will make the fruit much tastier. In addition, the juice prevents the avocado from oxidizing, so the dish will remain fresh for a long time.
In addition to salads, the fruit is widely used in the preparation of sushi, side dishes, dishes with poultry, meat, seafood. Aligator pears can also be used to make desserts, ice cream, mousses, juices, pastas and puree soups.
