TRYING NEW INGREDIENTS is a great way to open up new worlds of food and recipes. Each week, we’re taking one ingredient we reckon you should add to your storecupboard collection and kitchen arsenal.

This week, we’re starting simple with… avocado.

What’s this then?
Avocado is the trendy ingredient that you’ll find on every brunch menu in the country. The creamy green fruit (yep, it’s technically not a veg) has given rise to the hipster food term ‘smashed’. Smashed avo on sourdough toast, smashed avo in a chunky guacamole… it’s probably a term you’ve spotted once or twice.

Most of the avocados we eat here in Ireland are flown in from Mexico, the biggest producer of the fruit in the world. There are 57 countries growing them with the Dominican Republic, Peru, Indonesia and Columbia being other big players.

What does avocado taste like?
An avocado has quite a mild taste and flavour. The flesh of it is soft hence why it is great for mashing up to add to toast or to make guacamole, but equally it is its texture that often finds it on the ‘can’t do it list’ for some people!

Okay, but why should I start eating them?
Avocados are an amazing source of good fats. Their health benefits include critical, healthy monounsaturated fats in addition to various antioxidants, multiple trace vitamins including Omega-3 and minerals too.

Avocados can also be used as an alternative in baking instead of butter, replacing dairy if you’re baking for someone with an allergy or intolerance. To use in a recipe, use half the amount of avocado as you would butter, so for example, if the recipe calls for 250g butter, add 125g avocado.

What kind of dishes can I add avocado to?
An avo’s main strength from an ingredient perspective is that it is so versatile due to its texture and mild flavour.

Literally, you can just peel and slice a ripe avo and add it on the side of lots of dishes to instantly add a balance to spice, substance to a salad, and contrasting texture to a breakfast bowl or another layer in a sumptuous sandwich.

Okay, I’m sold. Give me a few recipes to get started…

1. Lily Ramirez-Foran’s Guacamole Norteño: If ever I want to cook a Mexican dish, I go to Lily or a recipe and inspiration. Her recipes are from her own repertoire of family favourites and are true Mexican food at its best.  This zingy guac features ruby-red pomegranate seeds, too.

2. Rachel Allen’s Chicken Caesar Salad With Avocado: Everyone loves a Caesar salad, and this is a Rachel Allen twist on the classic with the addition of creamy avo. A brilliant summer dinner.

3. Deliciously Ella’s Cacao And Avocado Mousse: This mousse is so simple to make, the avocado makes it super creamy and delicious and it’s a healthier sweet treat too.

4. Hemsley and Hemsley’s Avocado Lime Cheesecake: Another great dessert using avocado. The lime in this recipe compliments the avocado’s creamy flavour excellently.