Aussie avocado growers have great avocado recipes and some of them have shared their Christmas favourites. If it is a meal for yourself growers say simple is best but there are also some great recipes to impress your family and friends.
It’s been another HUGE year for Australian avocados, as growers across the country tackled floods, drought and hail. Despite this, they successfully delivered their quality avocados from the paddock to the plate. Australians can’t beat Aussie avocados for value this Holiday season!
So why should Aussie avocados be your STAR ⭐ ingredient this Christmas?
Besides being delicious and creamy, a single serve of avocado (½ a medium avocado or 75g) contains good fats, fibre, folate, B vitamins and potassium PLUS they boost the nutritional value of other healthy foods. So give Aussie avocados a HUGE TICK ✔️ and add it at the top of your shopping list this Season!
Aussie avocado growers have great avocado recipes and some of them have shared their favourites. If it is a meal for yourself growers say simple is best but there are also some great recipes to impress your family and friends.
Western Australian avocado grower Brad Rodgers, from Karri Brook Estate in Yanmah, starts the day with his favourite avocado on toast, but with a difference! He toasts 2 slices of Turkish bread, spreads Vegemite over each one and tops each one with coarsely sliced avocado, dividing the flesh of one avocado across both slices – so NO WASTE! Then he smothers his favourite chutney over the top of each slice. Grinding sea salt and pepper over the top to finish.
“The key is to use your favourite chutney, and I can’t go past a rich mango chutney,” said Brad.
For those of you who like an Asian style chutney you should try this delicious avocado coconut chutney recipe HERE.
Charlie Borzi from North Queensland agrees with Brad about using a whole avocado on toast. Like Brad, Charlie divides the flesh across two generous slices of toasted sourdough bread. Charlie is from Bellview Orchards in Mareeba and grows both avocados and limes.
“It’s the perfect combination to grow as I particularly like to finish off my avocado on toast with a fresh squeeze of lime juice, followed by a sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper,” said Charlie.
South Queensland-based avocado grower Sally Boardman, from Sunnyspot Packhouse in Ravensbourne, recommends a delicious, spicey guacamole recipe.
“Mash the flesh of two avocados in a bowl, add one finely chopped tomato, half a medium-sized, finely diced Spanish onion, the juice of one lime, and a teaspoon of chilli paste,” says Sally.
“For those who like the ZING of fresh chillies, replace the chilli paste with one finely diced birds eye chilli.”
You will impress your friends and family with Robyn Debreceny’s avocado, prawn and mango salad. Based in Central New South Wales, Robyn is from Comboyne Avocados, and her avocado salad is always a hit with family at Christmas.
“First make the dressing. Combine 60ml of a quality extra virgin olive oil, 20ml lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of whole seed mustard in a small jar, shake and set aside. Then take a large platter and arrange the washed leaves of two baby cos lettuces. Slice the flesh of two mangoes and two avocados. Peel and devein 16 large, cooked king prawns. Layer and top the cos lettuce leaves alternately with the mango strips and prawns. Place the slices of avocado decoratively over the top, followed by Spanish red onion rings – from half an onion. Sprinkle dry roasted pine nuts (just ¼ cup will do) over the lot and generously drizzle the dressing over the top. Season with salt and pepper to taste.”
Robyn’s avocado, prawn and mango salad not only looks divine it is a meal in itself.
Avocado is also a wonderful addition in desserts. Chocolate lovers will love Sarina Restifo’s dark chocolate and avocado mousse.
Sarina and her family grow AvoStar avocados in Pickering Brook, Western Australia. With her recipe you can substitute the 50g of raw cacao powder with 90g of melted dark chocolate – ideally with 70% cocoa content.
“Just put the flesh of 2 avocados into a food processor, add 3 tablespoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, cacao powder - or melted dark chocolate if you are after more richness - and blend. Spoon the mousse into 8 shot or dessert wine glasses and place them into the fridge. Grate dark couverture chocolate over the top before serving.”
Avocados Australia’s CEO John Tyas particularly likes to serve his prawn and avocado salad but encourages home cooks to experiment.
“Australian avocados are just so versatile and given that they are both delicious and nutritious if you are time poor just a quick avo on toast is a great start to the day but for Christmas you can’t go past an impressive salad topped with avocado,” says John Tyas.
Here are Robyn’s and Sarina’s original Aussie avocado recipes:
Robyn Debreceny’s AVOCADO PRAWN & MANGO SALAD
Serves 4
- ¼ cup pine nuts, dry roast in small pan with no oil. Allow to cool.
- 60ml extra virgin olive oil
- 20ml lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
- 2 baby cos lettuces (or other lettuce if you prefer)
- 2 mangoes peeled with the flesh cut in slices
- 2 avocados peeled with the flesh cut in slices
- 16 (or more) large, cooked king prawns, peeled and deveined
- ½ red onion slied into thin rings
Combine olive oil, lemon juice and mustard in a small jar, shake and set aside. Decoratively arrange lettuce on a serving platter. Layer top alternatively with mangoes, avocados and prawns. Sprinkle red onion rings and toasted pine nuts over the salad and then drizzle with combined dressing. Season to taste.
Sarina Restifo’s DARK CHOCOLATE & AVOCADO MOUSSE
Serves 8
- 2 large ripe avocados
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 50g cacao powder OR 90g of melted dark chocolate (ideally with 70% cocoa)
Just put the flesh of 2 avocados into a food processor, add 3 tablespoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, cacao powder - or melted dark chocolate if you are after more richness - and blend. Spoon the mousse into 8 shot or dessert wine glasses and place them into the fridge. Grate dark couverture chocolate over the top before serving.
You will find more great Australian avocado recipes online at www.australianavocados.com.au
ENDS
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About Avocados Australia – www.avocado.org.au - Avocados Australia (AAL) is the representative industry body for the Australian avocado industry. Our purpose is to support Australian growers in becoming world leading sustainable producers. Avocados Australia is a not-for-profit member-based organisation and our members include avocado growers, associated businesses and industry people. Avocados Australia seeks to work with all parts of the supply chain, from production through to the consumer. By working together, we seek to continually improve the ability of growers to provide a healthy and safe product for all consumers.
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