I love a multi-tasker, don’t you? I recently made this chunky Avocado Spread as a snack and to top toast, so I could eat something with texture while I was having some dental work done. Our Florida avocados are in season now, and it was perfect timing! When it comes to “Avocado Toast”, I admit that I’m a bit late to the party. I never understood – until recently – the charm of piling some avocado and a bunch of garnishes on top of a piece of toast, and calling it “breakfast”. Call me a convert!
As much as I love all avocados, I’m partial to our own Florida variety, the Choquette. Choquette avocados are lower in fat and therefore lower in calories, cup for cup, than the Hass variety you find in the stores. Hass avocados are also much smaller than the Choquette. You would need three or four Hass avos to equal one Choquette! Choquettes can be found on trees in backyards all over South Florida, so if you don’t have one yourself, chances are that someone in the neighborhood does, and because they’re usually pretty abundant, that neighbor is probably looking to give some away. Let’s face it – there’s a certain allure about the word “Free”, right?
Fortunately for me, my neighbors across the street have a beautiful tree that bears the sweet and creamy Choquette avocados. Over the course of the year, I might gift Mike and Gloria with the occasional jar of jam or a loaf of my homemade bread, or sometimes some extra herb plants from my garden. Then, when avocado season comes around, I’ll frequently come home to find several lovely Choquettes in a bag on a chair by my front door. I’d say that’s a fair trade, right?
The Choquette Avocado
Not to be confused with the Florida “Slimcado” you might find in your grocery store in other parts of the country, the Choquette is rounder, and frankly more flavorful than the “Slimcado”. If you’re used to the fatty mouthfeel of the Hass though, you might find the lighter, firmer texture and slightly sweeter flavor of the Choquette an adjustment. But that firmer texture has its advantages! The Choquette holds its shape better than the Hass, making it perfect for cubing or slicing and putting it in a salad, or laying it on toast. It’s also easier to scoop out of its “shell” in one piece.
Think of this as a kind of pared-down guacamole, and it’s perfect with chips for snacks, picnics, or tailgating, or spooned onto a thick slice of toast for breakfast in the morning! Guacamole generally contains ingredients such as onions, peppers, garlic, cilantro, etc. Many people don’t care for cilantro or the heat of some peppers. I love them all, but that didn’t appeal to me for breakfast. Also? All that chopping. This Avocado Spread contains exactly four ingredients. Four. And it comes together in about 5 minutes. Okay, maybe 10, if you’re really slow. 😁 How can you beat that?
Avocado Spread for Dip and Toast
Ingredients:
- 1 Florida Choquette Avocado (or 3-4 Hass)
- 2 Tbs. lime juice (fresh or bottled)
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 medium tomato, diced
Preparation:
Place the avocado(s) on a cutting board and, using a large knife, slice the avocado in half, tracing around the large seed. Separate the halves and remove the seed.
Scoop the avocado from its skin with a large spoon, then mash roughly with an old-fashioned potato masher.
Sprinkle the mashed avocado with the lime juice and salt, then add the diced tomato. Mix well.
That’s it! Serve with your favorite tortilla chips and salsa, or for breakfast or a snack on a thick slice of toast. Try it as a burger topping, too!
*Notes*
- Many people watch these chefs on TV hold the half of the avocado in their hands and remove the the seed with the heel of their knives. While you can certainly use that method, the average person, however, can miss the seed, resulting in nasty hand injuries that Emergency Rooms around the country have dubbed: “Avocado Hand”. Don’t do that! Place the avocado on your cutting board and keep your fingers well away from the seed before trying to remove it. You can use the heel of your knife, but even safer, use a large spoon to pry the seed out. This was a Public Service Announcement.
- Tip: Before dicing/chopping the tomato, place a double-thickness of paper towel (or a kitchen towel, if you like doing laundry) on the cutting board, and dice the tomato on the towel. The towel will soak up the tomato water as you slice and dice, resulting in less water on your counter and in your Avocado Spread. Just make sure you don’t add any towel bits to your spread. No one needs that kind of fiber. 😉
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The lime juice and salt are more pronounced in this spread than in your average guacamole. They add a bright freshness to the spread, and will also help keep it from oxidizing (turning brown) prematurely, extending its usable life.
My preferred way of eating one of these babies is with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a drizzle of lime juice!
Delicious as a burger topping, too!
