Elevate your best avocado recipe with these tasty avocado tips

Whether it is a simple slice on top of a salad or a flavorful guacamole served with chips, the best avocado recipe is only as good as its signature ingredient. Lucky, these tasty avocado tips will put cooks on the right path. After all, no one wants a dish to be the pits.

From National Avocado Day to any day, there are plenty of reasons to cut open that favorite fruit. But, some people might be stumped on how to ensure that vibrant green avocado is part of the recipe. Although grandma might have some proven tricks, chefs often have some tried and true methods that ensure the best possible ingredients are on the plate.

Recently, Rosa Mexicano’s VP of Culinary, Chef Manuel Trevino went all in for the brand’s National Avocado Day celebration. In collaboration with The Doughnut Project, the special avocado doughnut had everyone talking.

For those who did not see this special doughnut, it was a New York City exclusive. A riff on chips and salsa, the limited-edition doughnut was described as “an old fashioned corn cake, lime glaze, avocado mousse ring, centered with pineapple pico de gallo and garnished with tortilla chips.” While a savory-slant doughnut might not be the typical morning snack, it was definitely a bite to try.

But, the idea is one that has strong merit. Sometimes seeing the avocado’s versatility makes it a constant in the counter produce bowl. Still, home cooks could use a few avocado tips to ensure that they are picking the best possible one.

Recently Chef Manuel Trevino shared some simple tips, tricks and recipes to give the home cook a little more confidence in the kitchen. Sometimes the best avocado recipe starts with a little knowledge.

First Chef Trevino recommends to buy an avocado with the stem piece intact. Specifically, look under the step to determine if the avocado is ripe. If under the stem is bright green, the avocado is good to go. If the underside is brown, the avocado is overripe and could be brown inside.

Sometimes the only avocado available is one that is not quite ripe. To help move the ripening process along, consider placing the avocado in a bag with an apple or a banana. Those fruits produce ethylene gas, which can help the avocado ripen more quickly.

Also, do not use the avocado skin to determine whether it is ripe. Different varieties have different color levels to determine the ripeness.

Lastly, avoid that brown avocado by using olive oil. For example, brush a little olive oil on the cut pieces to help the browning. It works better than lemon juice.

Check you these avocado recipes from Chef Trevino.

Sliced Avocado and Tomato Salad

• 4 ripe beefsteak tomatoes
• 2 ripe avocados
• 1/2 red onion
• 1 TSP kosher salt
• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 1 lime
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, loosely packed

Ingredients:

1. Slice tomatoes into thin rounds. Lay out on a serving platter to cover the bottom. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of kosher salt.

2. Cut Avocados in half. Remove the pit and skin. Slice avocados thin. Lay out the serving platter on top of the tomatoes. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of kosher salt.

3. Slice 1/2 red onion thin. Scatter sliced onions over the tomato and avocado.

4. Drizzle the olive oil over the salad. Season with a generous pinch of kosher salt and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

5. Finish by scattering the cilantro leaves over the salad.

Avocado Yogurt dip

• 2 ripe avocados
• 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, loosely packed
• 2 TBSP fresh lime juice
• 1 pinch garlic powder
• 1 pinch onion powder
• 1 pinch cumin powder
• 1 generous pinch kosher salt

What are some of your best avocado tips? Do you have a great avocado recipe?