THE AVOCADO PARADE

HEALTHY – WHOLESOME- VERSATILE

An interesting, nutri-rich power house of energy and more!

Avocado, a superfood known for its numerous qualities and health benefits provides the body with a complete balance of various essential nutrients and antioxidants. Having known for its domestication in America to Mexico and roots in Spain as well, the fruit has been used in a number of exotic delicacies across the globe and is a favourite of many of us. While avocados are as trendy and fashionable as ever, this represents merely a resurgence of this superfood’s popularity. In fact, the produce with the dark green, knobby skin, buttery texture, and fresh mild taste has a surprisingly rich & creamy heritage.

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Health Benefits of Avocado:

• Aids in digestion & weight management.
• Rich in anti-aging & antioxidant properties
• Good for the eyes & brain.
• Helps treat Vitamin- K deficiency.
• Reduces inflammation in tissues, muscles & joints.
• Good for the skin helps keep it glowing.
• A compound called beta-sit sterol in avocado has been found helping cholesterol levels.
• Helps detoxify the body.
• Good source of potassium & folate.
• A great immunity-boosting ingredient.

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How to Prepare an Avocado before being used?

• Always prefer a firm avocado while purchasing it, do not go for the very soft and mushy ones.
• Check for bruises or cuts on the skin or surface, avoid those.
• Handle them with care and prepare them just close to use as far as possible to prevent their oxidation.
• Ripe avocados can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days wrap them in kitchen towels/cling wrap.
• Peel them, remove the stone carefully and handle the flesh with care, sprinkle fresh lime juice on them to maintain their color and a dash of salt to keep up the bite in it.
• Olive oil or even avocado oil goes well with avocado when it comes to salads or tossing them up in a dip or salsa.

Uses of Avocado in the Kitchen:

• Avocados are versatile as a fruit that are delicious in salads, sandwiches, tacos, soups, dips like the most popular guacamole!
• Indian cuisine, however, has not found it being used in our local recipes but yes as a chef I have used it with chicken tikka on a canapé with a pesto chutney, with a chilled pasta salad adding it with a dash of chaat masala and tamarind chutney for the spike!

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Some popular dishes with Avocado also include:

• Avocado & sun-dried tomato bruschetta Italian concept.
• Avocado & roast chicken salad with minted sour cream dressing.
• Chilled avocado and basil soup with olives and flaxseeds.
• Lime & Avocado hummus with burnt garlic toasties.
• Baked Avocado mash with browned onions and sweet potatoes.
• Avocado and assorted lettuce wrap with virgin olive oil and eggplant dip.
• Avocado oil is also a good option to use in preparing healthy dips, dressing, spreads, and marination for chicken or fish for grilling.

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Here are a few interesting and yummy recipes using avocado for our readers to try out in their home kitchens.

Recipe-1] CHEF’S SPECIAL AVOCADO TOSS

Recipe-2] AVOCADOS ON TOAST

Recipe-3] BEAN AND AVOCADO WRAP

Recipe-4] BREAKFAST AVOCADO EGG SCRAMBLE

Recipe-5] GREENS WITH AVOCADO HEALTHY BOWL

Recipe-6] SUMMER SPECIAL AVOCADO SALAD

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