1. Enjoy it raw:
- Eat it plain: Ripe avocados are delicious even after they have been peeled and pitted. A little salt, pepper, or olive oil will enhance the flavor.
- Salads: Combined with other vegetables, fruits (e.g., tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, mangoes), and protein sources (e.g., chicken breast, shrimp, salmon), these are a healthy and delicious meal.
- Guacamole: This Mexican sauce is made by mixing mashed avocado with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. It's delicious to dip in nachos, bread, tacos, burritos, and more!
- Open-faced sandwiches/toast: Spread crushed avocado on bread or toast and top with salt, pepper, fried eggs, smoked salmon, and more make a great brunch menu.
2. Use it in cooking:
- Bibimbap/Rice bowl: Diced avocado can be added to bibimbap or rice bowls to add a soft texture and savory flavor.
- Pasta/noodle dishes: Sliced or mashed avocado can be added to pasta sauce or served on top of finished pasta for a creamy, rich flavor. It goes especially well with oil pasta.
- Soups/smoothies: Grating avocados and adding them to soups or smoothies can add a thicker texture and make them more nutritious. It works especially well in cold soups or fruit smoothies.
- Roasted/fried: Avocados can be lightly roasted and served with salads, or fried in batter for a different taste.
- Gimbap/Rolls: You can add them to gimbap or California rolls to add a softer texture.
3. Serve as a dessert:
- Avocado Pudding/Mousse: Mashed avocado mixed with cocoa powder, sugar or honey, milk or coconut milk, etc., and chilled to solidify in the fridge for a smooth and delicious dessert.
- Avocado ice cream: If you make avocado based ice cream, you can enjoy a smooth and savory ice cream without any bitterness.
Tips for using avocados:
- Ripening: Avocados are a ripening fruit, so if you buy a firm avocado, store it at room temperature for a few days to ripen softly. Ripe avocados can slow down ripening if refrigerated.
- Prevents browning: Avocados brown easily when cut, so you can apply lemon juice or lime juice to the cut ends to prevent browning.
- Seed utilization: Avocado seeds can also be soaked in water to take root and grown as an ornamental.