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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Avocados

Hass Avocados Avocados Fruit Green

Avocados are the single most interesting fruit (yes fruit) on earth. There’s nothing like its bright green color, smooth texture, and delectable flavor. Avocados are incredibly versatile too, and no, they’re not only for guacamole. 

Because we want you and avocados to become best friends, we’ve put together some facts and features about the king of green fruit, just to see if you’re compatible (we know you are). So, if you’re ready, let see how many of these avocado facts you already knew. Let’s get started!

1. What does the word avocado mean?

Avocados are initially from Mexico. The Aztecs knew them well and were quite fond of them. The name they gave to avocados though, is more of a mean joke for the poor fruit. Avocados in Spanish are called Aguacates, and the word comes from the native word ahuacatl, meaning tree testicles. 

We see where they were going, avocados are egg-shaped and do hang from trees, we just thought you might want to know. ????

2. You can make a cake with avocados? 

You can. Avocados are packed with monounsaturated fatty acids; they’re mostly plant-based fat, which is why many vegan chefs now use it as a substitute for butter. We’ve tried avocado-based chocolate cake, and to be honest, it was a bit dry but didn’t taste like avocado at all. 

3. What’s better than guacamole?

Avocado Salsa Verde! When salsa verde, made with green tomatoes, chili peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro leaves and then it meets avocado, it becomes a thing of legend, a salsa to rule them all. 

The creamy green salsa is excellent for tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas. Although some might argue that the recipe for guacamole and this savory sauce are practically the same, we must point out the difference lies in the use of green tomatoes, which still run the show with their tart, juicy personality.

4. How do you know if an avocado is ripe enough to enjoy?

There are two ways to know if avocados are ready. The first one takes practice, we would say years of touching and squeezing avocados until you get the sense of the perfect tenderness — too soft, and the avocado is overripe, too firm, and it’s not there yet. 

The second way is much easier, and it has to do with the stemmy cap from where the avocado hung. If the cap is firm and can’t be removed, the avocado is not ripe yet, if you see a light green color under it, the avocado is ready, and if you see browning, the avocado is probably past its peak. 

5. How many types of avocados are there?

There are dozens of different avocados, some are thick-skinned, and some you can peel with your hands; some are as small as your thumb and others the size of your head. Avocados can be rugged or silky smooth, and although they all have its uses, the most common is the Hass avocado, the softest and most flavorful of them all. 

You can thank California’s own Rudolph Hass for breeding this noble cultivar, a delicacy grown today all over the world.

Here’s the verdict.

Avocados are not only your new best buddies; you’re meant to be together! So, go ahead and make avocados a permanent feature in your grocery list. Spread it on everything, cook with it, and finely dice it to take your greatest dishes to new heights. 

What’s most important, share the love!  Avocados are better when shared, so tell your friends and become the green fruit’s advocate. 

Chef Deno

Follow my journey as I explore food culture around the world - easily from the comfort of your own home. Proud of your food scene? I travel often and we can plan to meet up so you can share the food culture in your town.

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