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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Florida Avocados (That Big Avocado!)

Florida Avocados

Florida Avocados a.k.a. Big Avocados!

Well, I don't really know if other people call them 'Big Avocados', but that's pretty much what they are, Dearies. A Florida avocado is a large variety of avocado grown in Miami-Dade and Collier counties for commercial production. Although one can easily find one of these trees just walking through a neighborhood here in Florida. Indeed, I have one here in my subtropical hollow right outside my front door! But despite the abundance of these trees here in the sunshine state, Florida Avocado trees are indigenous to Mexico and parts of South America.

Either way, the fruits of this tree are delicious and so very healthful. There are a few different cultivars of this fruit, but on average a Florida avocado has about 50% less fat than its very popular cousin, the Hass avocado. They are also super rich in Fiber, as one of these lovelies has about 17 grams of crude fiber. That's impressive if one considers that the daily recommended value of fiber for one person is between 20-25 grams.

How to use: A Florida avocado is usually ready to be placed on sandwiches and/or wraps and mixed into guacamoles when they darken in color. Though I have had one that stayed quite green-I realized it was ready only due to touching it and feeling a softness in the flesh below the skin. So place them on a sunny window seal or next to some ripe bananas (the gases from the bananas will cause ripening). Feel them once or twice a day to see how they are coming along. I almost always notice mine seem to be somewhat dark and soft to the touch about 2 days after purchase.

Here's a recipe:

Florida Avocado Guacamole-Serves 3-4
1 Large Florida Avocado (fleshed)
1-2 Tbsp. Organic Mayo or Vegenaise
2 Tbsp. Red Onion (minced)
1 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro (chopped)
1 Clove Garlic (minced)
1-1 1/4 Tsp. Cumin
1/2-1 Tsp. Sriracha or Chili Garlic Sauce*
1/2 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
1/4-1/2 Tsp. Salt

*One can also just use red and black pepper to taste in order to add spice...

Place all of the ingredients above in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a fork and use the fork to break down the avocado flesh to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Eat immediately! If some is leftover, be sure to place plastic wrap immediately up against the guacamole in addition to covering the container with a lid and/or plastic wrap.

Enjoy!



















p.s. Florida avocados are in season now and through the winter here in the states!

54 comments:

  1. Cumin in the guac! That sounds magical Stella! Avocado's are one of my favorites.

    As for those buttons, blogger just asked me one day if I wanted to add them and I was just like, "sure". I think if you go to the layout you'll be able to put them in.

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  2. Un Guacamole perfecto Stella. I didn't know you spoke Spanish :) I love the Sriracha you added, mmm must have tasted really good. I didn't know these were lighter, thanks I learned something.

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  3. Hey Stella Witch!

    I LOVE avocados! I just used up 3 this week, but you'll have to wait for my next post to see what I've been up to...teehee (sorry). Guacamole is so addicting to me. I swear, just give me a spoon and I could almost eat it like pudding (big smile). I love that you added sriracha to your guacamole. Way to kick it up, I likies! And I'm still super jealous that you can just walk down the street and pick fruits off trees, such beautiful fruits might I add. I'm never able to wait for my avocados to ripe without the help of bananas, I'm too impatient. Such yumminess must be eaten before someone else in my household gets to them (wink). Thank you for sharing this lively guacamole recipe with us. Have a stupendous rest of the week Stella!

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  4. I found these large avocados once in our grocery store and bought them thinking they would just need a couple of days to ripen. but when I picked them up they were so soft so I tried em anyways.. the flavor is amazing!! I could totally go for some of your guacamole right now!

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  5. Hi, Stella!
    I love that you love avocados, and I'm not surprised. :D It seems that everyone is talking about the health benefits of these delicious vegetables (they are vegetables, right?) It's always good news when something that tastes great is also good for you. I'll have to look out for these massive avocados.
    Dark chocolate, red wine, walnuts and avocados...being healthy isn't so difficult after all. :-)

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  6. I love the color of those avocados! So bright and pretty. I don't think I've ever seen those out here in California. Maybe if I go search a Hispanic market. I would really like to try and taste the difference between them and the ones I normally eat.

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  7. I don't think I have ever heard of big avocados up here in the nitherlands of jersey.....they sound really good, and they are much prettier! When you said to put them next to banana's, I have to admit that at first you were going to tell us, it would make them feel better about themselves...sigh....
    I will ask my produce broker if he has these, I would love to try them on sandwiches!
    Thanks Stella!

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  8. Dear Stella I love avocados, this look awesome and yummy!! nice! gloria

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  9. i wondered why they were so big!! I walked past them and thought "*tut*, genetically modified...pfff...in england they're much smaller and natural (said in a smug way,lol)".
    Now i know that its not weird that they're like that lol and that other people have called them 'big avocados' too!!

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  10. For some reason I thought you were doing a avocado giveaway. They looks so dang good!

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  11. I always buy Hass avocadoes and need to try the Florida ones sometime. Love your unique recipe for guacamole!

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  12. I'm confused. How is that Florida avocados can have 50% less fat, and still retain their creaminess? Does that also mean we miss out on their healthy fats? Love your creamy, slightly spiced up guacamole though! I once put kimchi in mine. hee hee.

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  13. I've never had a Florida avocado. The skins are so smooth and emerald green, compared to the darker, more-wrinkled looking Haas avocado available in California (I've also seen a bacon avocado, which is small but a bit more similar to the Florida you photographed).
    Your recipe sounds delicious!

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  14. Your Guacamole recipe sounds delicious! The addition of cumin and coriander sound yum! I have never seen these big avocadoes, but I am sure I would love them!! Avocadoes are so full of good nutriments, I forgot why, but they are very good for the liver function (maybe the omega 3??). I even have them for breakfast, on crackers :-)
    P.S. The "Taste of" challenge was indeed until 15 september, but I will extend it until 3 October, will post about it later today :-)

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  15. Lovely Avocado spread. Nice to have come across your blog, hope to come for more soon. best wishes.

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  16. Now...this is one very interesting brew of guacamole. My tacos are ready to dip in ;o)

    How I envy the fact that you can easily get these avocados. We don't grow any locally, hence we have to count on the imports...there goes my 'buying locally' out the window again! Avocados is one that I won't do without...and I honestly do not think I should be deprived of this small luxury ;) Nothing wrong with helping out the U.S. economy ;)
    I had the Florida kind when I was there a few years back...loved them! Every once and a while I find them in our stores.

    Ciao for now,
    Claudia

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  17. I have to keep my eyes open for Florida avocados. I have never heard of them. I like that they have half the calories.

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  18. I love the big avocados!! they aren't nearly as common as the Haas ones here, which is a drag cause the big ones are so good!! Love the cumin in the guac, you're a girl after my own heart :)

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  19. Avocado is my favorite food. I eat it 3x a week, at least.

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  20. I'd love to dig into a big bowl of that guacamole! Since I'm lucky enough to live in the land of California avocados I'd feel compelled to use our local variety. But those Florida avocados sure do look enchanting!

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  21. Oh wow. I love avacados so much, I think I'd be in real trouble if I lived where they just grew on trees everywhere! I'd suffer from avacado overdose...

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  22. I LOVE avocados! I had no idea that there were different types actually. I know I sound like a moron but I simply go to the store and pick up an avocado. That's quite an accomplishment for me!

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  23. Thanks for the info on the Florida avocadoes. I thought they lookedtoo green and I would have to wait forver for them to rippen. I will definitely buy one the next time I am at the store.

    Your guacamole recipe with the sriracha sauce sounds wonderful. That sauce will definitely kick it up a notch. I know that did not sound too original ;)

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  24. My neighbor has an avocado tree and I love him for it.

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  25. I love avocado; what a thrill that must be to have an avocado tree in your yard; wow.
    I don't know if it is Florida avocado that we have here; we take what they ship up here.

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  26. Oh, my goodness! This looks so beautiful, Stella.

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  27. Stella! I was gonna say they were so green goddess. I guess when they're ripe they would have the similar color as other avocados? Love the kick from siracha. I can't live without it you know? haha. Beautiful presentation Stella! I had an argument with my man the other day about avocado nutrition. He thought it had high cholesterol due to the creaminess. I had to google it and showed him!

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  28. That's great Stella! Yeah I had to show some articles to him to convince him. It has fat but good fat! He accepted the fact but still doesn't the after taste..sigh..boys are boys..:)
    Thanks for the foodie fact. love it!

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  29. Stella, I always seem to get them under-ripe so have never gone out of my way to go FLorida and get the Haas instead... less fat??? Well, maybe one more try!!

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  30. I'm in an apartment now, but I used to have an avocado tree in my back yard. Now I have to beg friends to share!
    Nothing better than a guacamole made with avocados right off your own tree! They're good for you!

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  31. first off beautiful pic, love the color. Anything invloving avocado I'm there, great info as you know I cannot pick a great one for the ife of me, love the guac. I could live on avocados and poblanos, oh yum. You know one of my fondest food memeories was my mom's window seal lined with avocados. take care, i emailed tony will get back to you when he responds.
    sweetlife

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  32. I never in the 16 years here in Florida heard about this what great information and I am a huge fan of haas avocado. love them thank you so much for setting me straight!

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  33. The smooth, glossy green skin of the avocadoes is gorgeous. They really make we want to eat some - shame we can't get them over here *sad face*. But I will make a guacamole tonight in your honour, because your recipe is also gorgeous and I'm dyin' for some corn chips, yum!

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  34. Stella, You should consider yourself very lucky. I would give just about anything to have an avocado like that growing around here. I can't even find the big ones in the store and find myself settling for rock hard tiny avocados. Sinful. Thanks for posting this recipe and for the health tips. Who knew about the fiber?!

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  35. Florida avocados are not just big , they can be huge. I grew-up in south Florida (Miami). My parents had huge avocado and mango trees. The vendors would come in to purchase the trees each season. The trees were probably over 50 feet high!

    This post really brought back my growing-up years, Thanks!!!

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  36. Hi Stella! I was actually just going to make a post about the florida avocado! Ironic! Anyways, the recipe looks delish :) Around here the lovely florida avocado is marketed as the SlimCado, which I find horrifying. It makes it seem like it's some freakish diet food. What some people will to make some money!

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  37. Gorgeous photos! But, why do you buy them when you grow a tree outside your door? Take a picture of it. How many avocado grow on it per season?What do you do with them all?
    YUM
    :)
    Valerie

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  38. Oh...I love them Stella! Great nutrtional info too. I see them called "slim-cados" in the stores no too. Some damned silly, trendy name tag for all the fat gram phobes. Even though....the fat in avocado is extremely good for you! I like their lighter texture as well. They work fantabulously in vegan cupacakes as an egg replacement too.

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  39. What in blazes is a cupacake?? LOL I'm tired....

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  40. Jilly, a 'cupacake' is a cupcake that's so good you can't say things correctly anymore (smile)...!

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  41. Hey, I have not seen Florida Avocados before. Those I see in California are usually with hard wrinkled skin ;O ...an eye-opener for me.

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  42. I've always used Hass avocadoes and haven't ever ventured into the world of this variety! I need to start trying them because this guac looks awesome!

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  43. I don't see this kind of avocados here...but yes, I do eat and enjoy tremendously the avocados.
    This avocado dip looks so very pretty!
    Stella, pork trotters are the feet of a pig.
    Angie

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  44. I love avies...mmmmmm...yummy!

    I sometimes have them for breakfast, just mashed up with lime juice, cilantro, garlic, tomatoes, salt and hot pepper.

    Great for face masks too!

    Your photos look great as always!

    ((HUGS!))

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  45. Gotta love that guac! I prefer the haas - what can I say, I love my good fats, but I have used these often enough - they are less expensive, and as you said, very accessible (when I lived in FL).

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  46. What a fabulous Ode to the Av Stella. I'm a huge fan of the old Av - it features hugely on my brunch & lunch stand bys :)
    You can do just about anything with Av's coz they seem to pair really well with sweet & savoury tastes. Great information, thanks for sharing.

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  47. Somehow I missed this post! We've had guests in and out of our house for over a month--I'm a little off schedule.

    Gorgeous guacamole! I can't get these big avocados in NC, but I've bought them plenty of time when we travel. There are always something to look forward to at markets on vacation!

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  48. Dear Stella - I adore avocadoes and infact saw thwe bog florida ones at the market last week. I stopped and wondered about them so I am thrilled to see that they have your seal of approval.
    Considerind that I could live on guacamole, I must give this a go!

    Thanks for the lovely patties and guacamole recipe. Yummmy....

    Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

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  49. I have seen very similar avocados here in my neck of the woods, but they are from Indonesia. These are very pretty compared to their Hass cousins ;) And lower fat too?!?! Be still my heart *sigh* Love the flavor profile of your guacamole - cumin is kitchen magic and cilantro and sriracha make me a happy girl! Thanks for the information on them Stella - I will be on the lookout and grab these if ever I see them :)

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  50. I wish I could find those... Guacamole is so delicious!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  51. Hi there Miss Witchy! I'm behind on my comments - been a busy week. Love this post...because avocados are one of my favorite foods. So sinful but so delicious...and healthy too! Love this recipe. Thanks!

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  52. I love avocados! Nutritious, healthy and just delicious!

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  53. I much prefer Haas over Florida. The larger ones just don't have the same dense texture. I always feel like there's too much water that comes out when preparing guacamole with them, thus it just doesn't have the same hearty flavor. As a spread, maybe it's better, but as a dip I use Haas every time.

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  54. I realize I'm commenting very late, but I live in FL, and most farmers here will tell you that you may tell the FL avocado is ripe if you shake it and can feel the seed rolling about inside. When I slice them in half, the seed falls out on its own.

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Please do comment, Dearies!