Learn how to cut avocado with this easy step-by-step guide. The creamy and nutty flesh can be sliced, diced, or mashed to add nutritional benefits to savory recipes and even desserts.

Once you know how to cut an avocado, the culinary possibilities are endless. Mastering the technique to slice and dice an avocado is key to unlocking its delicate taste and nutritional benefits. Fan it out and make avocado toast, dice it up for tacos, mash it up for the best guacamole dip, or make chocolate mousse.

At first glance, it can be a little tricky to cut through the rough and bumpy outer layer and removing the large pit. Once cut open, the next hurdle is removing the delicate pulp which can be carefully scooped out or the skin peeled off.

Removing the Flesh of an Avocado: As easy as 1-2-3!

Use this technique to yield the most avocado meat while keeping it pretty for presentation. All you need are simple kitchen tools like a cutting board, large chef’s knife, spoon, and kitchen towel to get you closer to enjoying that creamy green flesh. Work carefully and slowly until you get the hang of the technique.

1. Separate the avocado into two halves. Stand a ripe avocado on end on a cutting board and insert the tip of a sharp knife into the stem end until you feel the pit. Next, cut all the way around the avocado in a circle, lengthwise, keeping the tip of the knife in contact with the pit along the way. Finally, gently twist the avocado halves to separate the two sections.

2.  Remove the pit. Holding the avocado securely, carefully tap the back edge of a chef’s knife into the pit. Twist the knife and lift it straight up to remove the pit; to dislodge it from the knife, use a wooden spoon.

3. Remove the flesh from the skin.

Make long, lengthwise slits in each half of the avocado to create multiple parallel lines. Turn the fruit 90 degrees and cut similarly sized lines perpendicular to the other tracks as to form a crosshatch pattern. Use a large spoon to scoop the flesh out of the skin.

Now you can use the flesh in your favorite recipes, like this one for guacamole!

Grow Your Own Avocados!

Avocado fans, have you ever considered growing your own? If you’ve considering using Yarden.com to buy a citrus tree online, you’re in luck – we offer Florida avocado trees for sale, too!

Avocado trees are subtropical, and do best in warm, semi-humid climates with consistent temperatures and few hard freezes. But don’t think you need to live in Florida to successfully grow your own avocado tree – dwarf avocados can be grown indoors!

You can find a number of varieties of Avocado Trees for sale at Yarden.com (including the Hass Avocado Tree, which is the most popular in the US). You can also find potting mixes specially formulated for avocado trees, containing compost blended with sand for a loose, fast-draining composition, along with kits containing everything you need for avocado growing nutrition.

Keep in mind, however, if you want fruit from your tree, just any avocado tree for sale won’t do – for indoor growing, you’ll need a dwarf variety that’s been grafted onto rootstock.

The post How to Cut an Avocado appeared first on Yarden.

Avocado toast is the perfect quick and easy recipe – few ingredients, minimal prep, and it can serve as a snack or a full meal.  But don’t let that fool you into thinking avocado toast is boring!  Here are some tips to get the perfect avocado toast every time, along with some recipe variations that will take your avo toast to the next level.

Tips for Getting the Best Avocado Toast

• Choose your avocados wisely

You want ripe avocados, but not overripe.  Choose ones that have a little bit of give when you squeeze them gently.  Avoid avocados with mushy or stringy insides.  Discard any brown or bruised bits of the flesh.

• Mash avocado separately

It may be tempting to mash the avocado directly on your toast, but doing so can squish or tear your bread.  Mashing the avocado in a separate bowl allows you to mash it evenly (giving a smoother and creamier texture) and keep the toasted texture of your bread.

• Splurge on bread

While you can absolutely use any bread you have on hand, certain types of bread will give you a more luxurious toast.  A sturdy and thick-sliced whole or multigrain bread will give you a stronger base.  Be sure to toast it well to not only increase the sturdiness, but to give a sharp contrast to the creamy avocado.

Ingredients:

• 2 pieces of thick-sliced bread
• 1 ripe avocado
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Cut avocado in half. Remove the pit and scoop the insides out into a small bowl.  Mash with a fork until it reaches desired consistency.  Add a pinch of salt to taste.
2. Toast bread slices until golden brown and firm.
3. Spread the avocado mixture evenly over the toast.

Avocado Toast Variations:

• Gluten Free

Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance don’t have to miss out on this tasty trend!  Swap out regular bread for a gluten free option.

• Everything Bagel

Sprinkle some Everything Bagel seasoning over the avocado spread.  You can find this seasoning mix at most grocery stores and even on Amazon.  You can also whip up a batch of your own.  Everything Bagel seasoning does tend to be salty, so you may want to cut back on the amount of salt you add to your avocado spread.

• Fried Egg

Top your toast with a fried egg to add some extra protein and energy to your day.  This makes an excellent breakfast to-go option.

• Tomato Basil with Balsamic Drizzle

Layer torn basil leaves and fresh tomato slices over your toast, then drizzle with a balsamic glaze or thick balsamic vinegar.  If you want an extra kick of salty flavor, sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.

The post Avocado Toast Recipe (Plus Tips & Variations) appeared first on Yarden.

Smoothies are a great way to get more fruits and veggies in your diet! Full of fiber and healthy fats, avocado makes this smoothie creamy and dreamy and thick, almost like a milkshake. The frozen banana adds a natural sweetness. 

Ingredients:

• ½ c. cubed frozen pineapple
• 2 c. packed fresh spinach OR 1 c. frozen spinach
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 frozen banana
• ¾ cup light coconut milk, canned or from a carton
• 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus ½ tsp. zest
• 1 tsp. maple syrup
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 8 ice cubes
• 2 scoops vanilla protein powder 

Directions:

1. Combine pineapple, spinach, avocado, banana, coconut milk, lime juice, maple syrup, salt, ice and protein powder in blender.
2. Blend until creamy.
3. Serve and enjoy!

The post Healthy Green Smoothie Recipe appeared first on Yarden.

Have you been thinking you might like to buy an Avocado Tree? Avocado trees are subtropical tree that do best in a warm, semi-humid climate that experiences few and brief hard freezes. An Avocado Tree will only grow outdoors in USDA Growing Zones 8-11, but even then the territory has to be just right – the avocado prefers moderate, consistent temperatures, not extreme heat, cold winds or snow.

Growing Avocados Indoors

Growing an avocado tree indoors is both easy and rewarding. You can find several varieties of quality Avocado Trees for sale at Citrus.com. You can also find potting mixes specially formulated for avocado trees, containing compost blended with sand for a loose, fast-draining composition, along with kits containing everything you need for avocado growing nutrition.

If you’re hoping that by keeping your own avocado tree you can save money by not buying avocados, you need to know that you’re unlikely to get fruit from a potted avocado tree unless you get a dwarf variety that’s been grafted onto rootstock. Whether you get fruit or not, however, you’ll get great enjoyment out of the beauty of your indoor avocado plant!

Caring for an Indoor Avocado

Indoor avocado plant care includes plant support and feeding. Use a stake to keep the plants main stem sturdy and straight as it grows. Also, transplant the tree as it outgrows its pot. Prune off any suckers that arise from the rootstock.

Growing avocados in containers indoors requires lots of bright light so the plant won’t become straggly. In the beginning, pinching off excess growth will help promote a bushier, stronger plant.

Fertilize your avocado tree with water-soluble food every month, and turn it frequently to promote even growth.

Avocado trees require regular watering for the plant to thrive and produce fruit. Give the plant moderate water when the soil feels dry to the touch.

When to Prune an Avocado Tree

Generally, avocado trees don’t require much pruning. Major pruning of outdoor trees in order to encourage branching is done during the winter, or immediately after harvest. Light pruning tasks can be done whenever needed. Only prune out dead or dying branches.

For outdoor trees, it’s a good idea to cut off the top of the tree (about 10-15 feet) after several years of avocado harvests. This also helps keep the tree at a good height for easy harvesting.

Did You Know?

Every wonder how you can tell when is an avocado ripe? Avocado trees take up to a year on the tree to fully ripen. If the avocado yields to firm but gentle pressure, you know it’s ready-to-eat. It should feel slightly soft, but not mushy.

The post When to Trim an Avocado Tree appeared first on Yarden.

Are you a fan of avocados? If so, you’re not the only one – the Mexican fruit (yes, avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable) has grown popular along with the popularity of Mexican cuisine. Apart from the ubiquitous guacamole, avocados are enjoyed in everything from salads to breakfast toast. And avocados aren’t just delicious – they’re good for you, too! Avocados are known for being a source of “good fat” (monounsaturated fat, which helps main healthy cholesterol levels). They’re also packed with other nutrients, such as magnesium, potassium, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E, and are high in fiber. In fact, the only bad thing about avocados, it would seem, is their price – compared to other produce, avocados tend to be more expensive.

Grow Your Own Avocados

An obvious solution for an avocado-lover would be to grow their own at home. But if you live in a colder climate, you may have figured it was out of the question. While you can find cold-hardy avocado trees for sale (along with cheap citrus trees, Citrus.com also offers several varieties of avocado tree for sale), you might be surprised to learn that you can also grow dwarf variety avocado trees indoors. Dwarf varieties of your favorite avocados (including the popular Hass Avocado Trees) are more likely to produce fruit when grown in pots or containers.

Growing an avocado tree indoors is both easy and rewarding. If you’ve purchased citrus trees online from Citrus.com before, you’ll be happy to know you can find several varieties of quality Avocado Trees for sale at Citrus.com as well, along with the items best suited to help you care for them (including specially formulated potting mixes and kits containing everything you need for avocado nutrition).

Caring for Indoor Avocado Trees

Dwarf avocado trees grow well indoors, but they do need regular feeding (fertilizing it with a water-soluble food every month is a good idea) as well as a stake to keep them sturdy and straight as they grow. You’ll also need to prune off any suckers that form on the rootstock, and “pot up” the plant before it outgrows its original pot.

Because avocado trees need a lot of light, you may want to consider moving your potted avocado outdoors when the weather warms. Indoors you may have to provide a grow light to help it along. (Avocado plants grown in containers will become straggly if they don’t get enough light, which is essential for a strong, sturdy, bushy plant). Turning the plant frequently in its pot also helps promote even growing.

Avocado trees also require regular watering for the plant to thrive and produce fruit. Feel the soil often; if it feels dry, it’s time to water. Generally, avocado trees don’t require much pruning.

A Rewarding Endeavor

It can take a long time to grow your own smooth, creamy, nutrient-rich avocados (the fruit takes a year on the tree to fully ripen), but it’s definitely worth it. And you’re sure to be delighted with the tree itself while you’re waiting – an attractive, evergreen plant with broad leaves, adding an avocado tree to your indoor décor will make a lovely statement even without the fruit.

The post How to Plant & Grow an Avocado Tree appeared first on Yarden.

This is a fresh-tasting alternative to traditional guacamole. Spread this avocado treat on toasted whole grain pita wedges or corn tortillas for a light, refreshing lunchtime treat!

 Ingredients:

• 3 ripe avocados
• ½ small onion, diced fine
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 3 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, diced fine
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lime, juiced
• ½ tsp. sea salt

 Directions:

1. Slice avocados in half, remove pit and skin, and place fruit in a mixing bowl. Mash with a fork and make it as chunky or smooth as you’d like.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

The post Easy Guacamole Recipe appeared first on Yarden.

If you’ve ever looked at the ingredients label on salad dressing, you may find yourself wondering what some of those unpronounceable ingredients are!  With this homemade, 6-ingredient avocado dressing, you can be sure that your salads will be tasty and healthy!

Ingredients:

• 1 large avocado
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• ½ Tbsp. fresh lime juice, or sub lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ tsp. kosher salt
• ¼ tsp.  ground black pepper
• water, as needed

Directions:

1. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh of the avocado into a food processor or small blender.
2. Add the garlic, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Process until smooth, making sure to stop and scrape the sides down a few times.
4. Once smooth, add water in small increments to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
5. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

The post Creamy Avocado Dressing Recipe appeared first on Yarden.

Types of Avocados

Worldwide, there are over one hundred types of avocado trees planted for home gardening and commercial growth. However, only a few of these avocado tree cultivars are grown widely in the United States for their superior quality.

• Hass Avocado – This avocado is the most popular cultivar in the United States and accounts for 95 percent of avocados sold. It has green bumpy skin that turns purplish upon reaching maturity and offers a creamy flesh with superior taste. What keeps the Hass avocado apart from the rest is its ability to ripen on the tree and remain there for many months. It also has the longest seasonal availability, which can last for 7 months.
• Reed Avocado – Reed is a summer-fall variety of avocado that compliments Hass. It is bigger compared to Hass and stays green even when ripe. The golden-yellow flesh is buttery and offers a wonderful flavor that is rich, bold, and nutty.
• Zutano Avocado – This variety has a waxy, green-yellow-skin that retains its color upon maturity. Compared to Hass, it boasts a silkier texture and offers an avocado flavor with a note of lemon. This cultivar is mostly used as a pollinator to Hass.

Avocado Tree Care

Growing an avocado tree at home can be rewarding. Imagine having an avocado fruit all to yourself for much of the year, with free access to nutrients you can only get from fresh fruits.

If you wish to grow an avocado tree in your backyard, follow the avocado care tips we have prepared below to grow a healthy plant that will produce flavorful fruits in no time.

• Avocado trees thrive in rich humus soil where they can get nitrogen and other nutrients needed to establish healthy roots.
• These trees like sunlight and should be planted in an area where they get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day.
• When watering avocado trees make sure that you do not over do it, as they do not like standing water. Keep in mind that the soil should be moist, not saturated. For the first week water your tree daily, then reduce watering to once a week or when the soil gets dry to 2 inches deep.
• If you live in an area where winter is harsh and there is always the danger of frost, provide your tree with cold protection.
• Prune diseased, damaged, or decayed branches to prevent the spread of disease on your tree.
• Fertilizer is a must when it comes to fruiting trees like avocado trees. You must apply ½ to 1 pound of nitrogen for every avocado tree you have. You may spread out the administration into several applications so long as it amounts to the recommended volume.

The post What Type of Avocado Tree Should I Buy? appeared first on Yarden.

Love avocado, but getting tired of guacamole? These crispy strips make an excellent appetizer at your next gathering! Flaky panko crumbs give them a satisfying crunch, while the spicy-lime mayo adds extra zing. The-salt-and pepper coating adds plenty of flavor, but you can also spice things up even further by adding chili powder or other seasonings. This is a great treat for game day!

Ingredients:

For the fried avocado strips:

• 2 large avocados
• ½ c. flour
• ½. tsp. salt
• 1 dash ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 c. panko breadcrumbs
• 1 Tbsp. oil

For the spicy cilantro-lime mayo:

• ½ c. mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. lime juice
• ¼ tsp. smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
• ⅛ tsp. salt

Directions:

For the spicy cilantro-lime mayo: 

1. Whisk together mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, lime juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Add salt as needed. Cover and refrigerate.

For the fried avocado strips: 

1. Slice avocados in half; remove pit and peel, and slice each half into 4 or 5 strips.
2. Add flour, ½ teaspoon of salt, and a ⅛ pepper to a small bowl. In a second bowl add beaten eggs; in a third bowl add panko breadcrumbs.
3. Dip avocado strips one at a time in flour and turn to coat all sides. Coat with beaten egg. Let excess egg drip off and dip in panko crumbs, pressing gently to coat. Remove coated avocado strips to a plate.
4. Add about an inch of cooking oil to a deep sauté pan and heat to 350° Add 4-6 avocado strips to hot oil and fry until coating is golden brown (about 2 minutes).
5. Remove fried avocado strips to a paper towel-lined plate.
6. Arrange fried avocado on a small platter or plate with the spicy cilantro-lime mayo and serve.

The post Fried Avocado Recipe appeared first on Yarden.

This nutritious, quick-and-easy snack is like summertime on toast! Mashed avocado is topped with zesty vegan pesto and thinly sliced tomatoes to take toast to a whole new level. Try it with sourdough toast, or whichever break you like best – even gluten-free!

Ingredients:

For the pesto:

• 2 c. fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
• ¼ tsp. sea salt (plus more to taste)
• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. water

For the toast:

• 1 slice bread
• ¼–⅓ large avocado, sliced
• 2 Tbsp. basil pesto
• 1-2 slices tomato
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes

 
Directions:

For the pesto:

1. Add basil, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt to food processor or blender and blend/mix on high until a paste forms.
   
2. Add olive oil a little at a time (streaming in while machine is on if possible), scraping down sides as needed. Add water a little at a time until desired consistency.

For the avocado toast:

1. Toast bread until golden brown. Top with sliced avocado and use a fork to smash. Add 2 tablespoons pesto per slice of bread and spread over avocado with fork or spoon. Add sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with a pinch each of sea salt and red pepper flakes.
   

Pesto can be made in advance and used for avocado toast throughout the week. Store leftover pesto in sealed container in refrigerator for up to 1 week OR pour into ice cube tray, freeze, and store up to a month or more. Thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight.

The post Citrus Pesto Avocado Toast with Tomatoes Recipe appeared first on Yarden.