{ingredient} Ode to the Avo. Avocado that is. My fatty friend, I love you!

It’s about time I officially introduced you to my near and dear friend, the avocado. I suppose we should start with how to choose WHICH avocado will be the STAR of your next meal.

PICKING A RIPE AVOCADO Often grocers and local farmers’ markets will not have any ripe avocados, so you may need to store the avocado at room temperature for a few days while you wait for the avocado to ripen to perfection. You will know when the avocado is ripe when you can press semi-firmly on its skin and it gives so that you can feel the softness of the avocado “meat” inside.

I sometimes say… oh… nevermind… maybe this is not the right website to be bringing up a lady’s breasts. But maybe that little hint will help you to determine JUST the right feel your avocado should have when perfectly ripe. That’s all I’m sayin’!

THE AVOCADO IS SO VERY DIVERSE! The Avocado is one of several chameleons of the raw food world. It can be mashed with a banana to make a sweet and creamy pudding, mashed and salted to be used as a rich spread on a cracker or raw bread, can be eaten with a touch of agave or with salt.

It can be a chocolate pudding (no kidding, so yummy!) or just a topping. It can be filled with salsa or even kale salad {like the tropi-kale salad which features a filled avocado}. The creaminess can replace the oily aspect of a dressing to make a salad more rich and filling, which is perfectly paired with something acidic like lemon or apple cider vinegar.

And of course, it is the star in guacamole! But SERIOUSLY, the options are endless!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF AVOCADOS Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat which is said to reduce the “bad” cholesterol levels. As well, eating avocados with tomatoes increase the absorption of lycopene by the body. Avocados are a great mixed with other foods and digest well, as well as help absorption with many foods, not just the tomato. (Cool, huh?)

All right, let’s jump to some recipes with this fatty little goddess of the raw food world…

AVOCADO RECIPES THAT ARE BORDERLINE INSANE(LY EASY!)

• {Cheater Guacamole}
• {Throw-Together Salad with “Sour Cream” for Dressing}
• {BIG Salad more than double the size of Lilla’s head}

AVOCADO, FRONT AND CENTER FEATURE

• {Raw Food Drink (& Dessert!) Recipe: Suco de Abacate ~ Raw Style!}
• {Raw Food Entree (or Appetizer!) Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes with Avocado Medley}
• {Raw Food Entree (or Appetizer!) Recipe: Tropi-Kale Stuffed Avocados}
• {Raw Food Appetizer Recipe: Avocado Kiwi Salsa}
• {Raw Food Appetizer (or Entree?!) Recipe: Basic Veggie Wraps}
• {Raw Vegan Soup Recipe: Avocado Gazpacho}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Hot Choccado Mousse}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Vegan Key Lime Mousse}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Chocolate Cinnamon Mousse}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Green Mountain Parfait}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Wham Bam Chocolate Mousse}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Rich & Elegant Chocolate Mousse}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Blackcurrant Chocolate Pudding}

LOVELY DISHES INCLUDING THE AVOCADO

• {Raw Food Drink (& Dessert!) Recipe: Chocolate Silk Shake}
• {Raw Food Salad & Dressing Recipe: Calendula Citrus Salad}
• {Raw Food Salad & Dressing Recipe: Thai Tomato Salad}
• {Raw Food Salad Recipe: Zesty Lime Corn Salad}
• {Raw Food Salad Recipe: Fresh Garden Salad}
• {Raw Food Salad Dressing Recipe: Creamy Cucumber Dressing}
• {Raw Food Salad & Dressing Recipe: Chopped Salad with Agave Mustard Vinaigrette}
• {Low-Fat 80/10/10 Raw Food Recipe: Cauliflower Medley}
• {Low-Fat 80/10/10 Raw Food Recipe: I’m no Guru Bloody Delicious Salad}
• {Raw Food Soup Recipe: Red Pepper Pistachio Bisque}
• {Raw Vegan Entree Recipe: Orange Teriyaki Stir-Unfry}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Sandwiches}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Mini Chocolate Cupcakes}
• {Raw Food Dessert Recipe: Sacher Torte}

WOULD BE FAAABULOUS PAIRED WITH AVOCADO

• {Raw Food Entree Recipe: Portobello Burger Patty}
• {Raw Food Snack Recipe: Crunchy Flax Crackers}
• {Raw Food Soup Recipe: Pear & Watercress Soup}

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Tagged as: fruit, ingredient