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Avocado Tomato Salad
Avocado Tomato Salad
Is the Avocado a Fruit or Vegetable?
You may think this green, healthy food is a vegetable, but technically it's a fruit. Fruit is the part of a plant that develops from a blossom, or in the case of the avocado, a single seeded berry. Other fruits include cucumbers, pea pods, grains, sunflower seeds, corn, beans, pumpkins and tomatoes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
According to the University of California agriculture and natural resources, a fruit is the "matured ovary of a flower". Due to the nature of the produce which grows on a tree and is part of the reproductive process in carrying the seed of the plant, it is categorized as a fruit of the species P. Americana. Avocados have a long history dating back to around 10,000 BC with evidence of their use found in a cave in Coxcatlan, Puebla, Mexico. Writings from the fifteenth century detail history of this amazing ancient fruit.
Fresh Tomatoes, Avocado and Lemons
Family Values
My grandmother's sister, Aunt Jessie, had a home in south Miami near highway A1A. In her backyard lived several mature avocado trees which bore more fruit than she could easily use. She bartered with the neighbors trading them for fresh mangoes, grapefruit and oranges from their own yards. It was a small community where everyone knew each other.
Whenever we would drive up for a visit from where we lived in the Florida Keys, she'd prepare a hearty feast that covered the entire surface of the dining room table. Her home was always filled with aromas of fresh baked cakes, fried chicken, string beans seasoned with ham, stewed tomatoes and a variety of other side dishes. Alongside the many bowls overflowing with food was the family favorite, avocado salad.
Childhood memories are filled with the fishing trips we made into to the Everglades and hours of playing on the tire swing in her back yard that was tied to her avocado tree. Aunt Jessie's mother lived in the house, too, sleeping in the small front bedroom where the scent of Jasmine drifted in the jalousie windows on soft southern breezes.
My sister and I would sleep with Great grandmother, who was born in 1860. She kept us entertained late into the night with her stories about Native Americans who lived in the South Miami area. She told us how they traveled along dirt paths making their way to the old general store where they traded their handmade goods for merchandise. We could easily imagine the barefooted women walking along with their babies riding in papooses on their backs. Her attention to detail made the stories come alive.
Her daughter, Aunt Jessie, lived to be ninety-seven years old and passed along the secrets of her family recipe for avocado salad which I've shared here.
Removing the Seed
Easy Way to Remove the Seed
There are a number of ways to cut an avocado. This is a simple way that gets the seed out without damaging the meat of the fruit is as follows:
- First, use a sharp knife to cut lengthwise around the entire avocado.
- Twist the avocado slightly to make it easy to separate the halves.
- Take the knife and gently skewer the seed with a chopping motion.
- Twist clockwise or counterclockwise to turn the seed in its pocket.
- Remove the seed which remains skewered on the knife.
Sprinkle a little lemon juice over the surface to keep the fruit from turning brown.
To Cube the Avocado
Make 3 lengthwise cuts using a rounded knife on one half of the avocado while it remains within the peeling.
Make 4 or 5 horizontal cuts across the width of the same half.
Using a large spoon, scoop out the cubes separating them from the peel.
Let them drop into a small bowl as you work.
At this point, I like to use a bit more lemon juice to keep the fruit from turning brown.
Repeat this process for the other half.
Sprinkle with lemon juice and a bit of salt and pepper if desired.
Instructions
Nutritional Values
Avocados contain nearly twenty vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can contribute to the nutrient quality of your daily diet. One serving provides approximately four percent (4%) of vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and panothenic acid, with six percent (6%) of folate and two percent (2%) zinc, magnesium, manganese, thiamin, phosphorus, copper and iron.
Five servings are contained in one medium Haas avocado, determined by the size of the fruit. Mono unsaturated fats account for three and a half (3.5) grams with half a gram of saturated fat and half a gram of unsaturated fat. Total fat per serving shown is slightly below the standard estimate of seven percent per serving as the table shows only whole numbers with no decimals.
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Serving size: 1/5 of a Haas Avocado 30g/1oz | |
Calories | 50 |
Calories from Fat | 36 |
% Daily Value * | |
Fat 4 g | 6% |
Saturated fat 1 g | 5% |
Unsaturated fat 1 g | |
Carbohydrates 3 g | 1% |
Sugar 0 g | |
Fiber 2 g | 8% |
Protein 0 g | |
Cholesterol 0 mg | |
Sodium 0 mg | |
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. |
Hollowing out the Tomato
How to Turn a Tomato into a Container for the Salad
Turning the tomato into a container makes a nice presentation for the salad.
Begin by cutting a circle into the top of the tomato by inserting a sharp knife at an angle toward the center. Once the center section is removed, use a small spoon to separate the inside from the edge taking care not to pierce the side walls.
Remove the tomato innards and cut them into smaller pieces, draining any excess liquid before adding them to the salad mixture.
Reserve the lid for the final presentation.
Cubed Avocado with Tomato, Salt and Pepper
To finish the Avocado Salad
For those who enjoy mayonnaise, add a tablespoon to the cubed avocado and diced tomato. Dice a soft-boiled egg and add to the mix.
Ranch Dressing or Italian Dressing can be substituted for those who prefer it rather than the mayonnaise.
If desired, add one teaspoon of sweet pickle relish, a little salt and pepper and garlic powder or minced garlic.
Stir the mixture together and refill the tomato shell garnishing the top with some chopped pecans or walnuts. I use whatever I have at the time, varying the recipe sometimes to include chopped black olives or shredded cheese.
Sprinkle a small amount of Paprika over the stuffed tomato and serve over a bed of shredded lettuce.
Delicious and easy to prepare, serve this dish as an entrée or a side salad. Avocado is good for you.
Stuffed Tomato
Avocado Trees
© 2013 Peg Cole
Comments
This recipe is a keeper! Avocados are so good and so healthy. I was surprised to learn that corn, grains, cucumbers and avocados are a fruit.
Thanks Peg for sharing. I'll share and pin.
Congratulations are in order for writing an excellent post on the use of avocados. I can see why it earned the award. Thanks for the lesson on how to cut out the pit or seed.
We love tomato and avocado! It is a regular no brainer for us. Often just a bit of Catalina dressing drizzled over the avo and a spoonful of mayo on the lightly salted tomato. Together on sandwiches with thinly sliced onion and Havarti cheese is another favorite. Tonight it will be your tomato-avocado bowls with some leftover homemade chicken-veggie soup. Sounds so yum doesn't it? Oh & BTW, condrats on being chosen for the Editor's Choice Weekly Spotlight!
Congrats, Peg!! A well deserved honor!!
I had to return to congratulate you on the Editor's Choice award for this hub, Peg. The honor is well deserved!
Congrats on your Editor's Choice spotlight. Just think, it only took two years to be found ;)
Regardless, I missed this along the way, but am delighted to read it now. Nice family background coupled with a great recipe and instructions. No wonder it was chosen!
Congrats on Editor's choice weekly spotlight! and I can see why! lol!
This is indeed an excellent hub as much for the tips as for the recipe.
Now this looks super healthy and yummy!
just letting you know this food item is going to be on my Super Bowl food list thanks again :)
This looks terrific! I love turning food in to edible bowls. I've done that with peppers, tomatoes, and pumpkins. I also turned a watermelon into a fruit bowl once. Thank you for sharing your story.
I always forget how to spell that word. I have spell check on here, so I couldn't ignore it. I went into the other room to make sure I got the word right, because I don't like seeing the red squiggles on my page!
Peg, that sounds spectacular, too! Raspberry vinaigrette is my absolute favorite salad dressing, and I will probably have a very similar salad soon. We just stocked up on fruits and veggies, so I have enough fixings for as many salads as my heart desires! Mmm, I don't usually think of adding apple to my salad, but it would taste great, especially with the fruity dressing.
I love picking up locally made products! It's cool that you turn some of the jam into a dressing, too. I have a berry jam that I may try that with sometime.
I'm hungry now, too!
Update: Peg, I made this tonight for supper, to go with my tortilla rolls I made. I didn't have enough big tomatoes to make a cool bowl with, but I made the delicious salad, and put it on top f spinach greens. I sprinkled a bit of walnuts and shredded cheese on top, as well as a few croutons for some crunch. Both Andy and I loved this, and I will be making it many more times! Thanks again for sharing this recipe with us, and have a wonderful weekend.
~ Kathryn
Nice idea. Vote up!
PegCole17, this looks great. It's very creative and healthy. I love the idea of turning the tomato into a container for the salad. This would be a great recipe for a girls day!
I love salad and tomato is my favorite...wow...it looks so delicious and makes me hungry. I'll show the recipe to my mom. Dear friend, thanks for writing and sharing with us. Voted up!
Prasetio
I love avocados! My mouth is watering right now, after seeing those photos. I absolutely will be making this, because it looks so good!
I really liked the backstory of this recipe. It's so sweet and nostalgic. I also like the little lesson about avocados, as well as the instructions on how to cut an avocado. I have never even thought of cutting it without taking its peel off! Brilliant! I also like the lovely presentation of using a tomato as a bowl. This is just a great article!
Voted up and across, and sharing! Have a wonderful weekend!
This is my kind of dish. I love avocados. I can't wait to try it.
Hi Peg,
What great memories you have of visiting your Aunt Jessie. Thanks for sharing some of it with us including this wonderful sounding recipe using tomatoes and avocados...both of which I happen to have on hand right now. Your step by step photos are wonderful. I have used that method of removing the avocado seed for quite some time now ever since I saw it demonstrated on a cooking show. The dicing it in this manner also makes it easy. This gets a 5 star rating and up and useful votes.
Thanks for this wow-pow new recipe for using avocados! I'm very much looking forward to it.
Florida used to be a different place, didn't it? I had a Great Aunt Jessie from Miami! She lived most of her life in Central Florida, though. Thanks for a look at times past, and for the recipe!
Wow....it sound delicious and healthy as well. The picture makes me hungry. I can't wait to make it soon. Thanks for sharing with us. Up and useful :-)
Prasetio
This looks yummy, voted up, more and shared. I think I might have to try this recipe out tonight.
This is a 5 star recipe for sure Peg!! thanks so much for sharing such a great easy nourishing meal idea with us! Voted UA & most useful..cheers
Now I can't wait for my tomatoes to ripen! A home grown tomato and avocado, yummy! This sounds so good and looks awesome. Thank you for sharing this with us. Voted up and useful! (Too bad we don't have a "yummy" button!) :)
Thanks for the tasty recipe, Peg. I like all the ingredients separately, so I'm sure that I'll like them when they're mixed together!
Avocado anything sounds good to me; adding walnuts, olives and cheese only makes it better. Thanks for this recipe. Voted Up.
Just looking at this avocado salad makes my mouth water, really it looks delicious. I wonder if Emerald Wells will have it on the menu? Thank's for sharing..
I love your introduction to this recipe and the nostalgic memories it brings.
Love tomatoes and love avocado so will definitely be doing this salad. Your photos and instructions are excellent, nobody could go wrong with these.
Voting UP and more plus 5 stars
Thank you for a recipe that is healthy with a bit of pizzazz, a little sweet and a lot refreshing. Thank you for a wonderfully written HubPages article and for sharing some of your absolutely wonderful memories.
I like the sound of this. Sounds like something for a hot day. It would be so nice.
Such a nice refreshing food, this is good to be part on my daily diet. Nice.
Even though avocados are not among my favorites, Peg, your photos are outstanding. And now I can claim, without fear of contradiction, that an avocado is indeed a fruit! Right?
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe with us! The history and nutritional facts are very useful and interesting.
Excellent hub! Voted up +++ and sharing
Blessings, Faith Reaper
The hub is really awesome. The pics are the main attraction. I am voting it UP/ useful, awesome and beautiful... Excellent work!
I am a huge fan of the stuffed tomato. It is one of my favorite summer-time dishes. The avocado stuffed recipe looks fabulous.
We always have avocados in the house. I wish I had a tree. Love them. This recipe looks easy and delicious. I liked the instructions of cubing the avocado. I always make a mess. Great recipe, photos etc. Voting up and pinning in the recipe section.
Peg, Oh good gosh! How wonderful and delicious (and that's just your story about your Great Grandmother!) Avocado is my favorite food. Two please! You are so clever, and I am so glad we are friends, hoping something will rub off, or you will come and cook for me, or at the very least I will make this recipe and think of you. Thank you! Regards, snakeslane
Goodness gracious, Peg, I hate tomatoes. LOL Now what do I do with this recipe? :) I know, I'll pass it on to Bev. She loves those red things.
Wow this looks GREAT!!!!
Oh, great, an avocado salad and Chicago in one place. What could be better than that? This is a great presentation, full of nostalgia and healthy information and a nice addition to lunch. Thanks Peg.
Listening to Chicago, with my mouth watering for this delicious salad, Sista Peg...oh how I love both avocado and tomato...and throw some nuts in there, how can you go wrong??!!
I know I shall be trying this soon and I thank you for the nostalgic backdrop. You are so cool! Voted UP and UABI.
Love, Maria
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