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
AUTHORHello Audrey,
Thanks for the visit and the share. I love avocados, too.
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.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Teaches12345. I was surprised and pleased by the sudden attention to this recipe.
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.
- AUTHOR
Oh yum, Kailua-Kona Girl. Those sandwiches sound delicious. What a great added ingredient, Havarti cheese. I have to try that.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, dear Sunshine. You are so sweet.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, AliciaC. It truly is an honor to be recognized. You are one who knows with all your well deserved Hub of the Day Awards.
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!
- AUTHOR
Hello Tillsontitan, Mary, You know, I was shocked to find this in the spotlight today. It really made my day as this one has fluctuated on and off Editor's Choice status due to traffic and other stuff. I really appreciate you stopping in to check it out. Cheers!
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!
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Nell. You rock! I didn't know about it until a friend pointed it out on Facebook.
Congrats on Editor's choice weekly spotlight! and I can see why! lol!
- AUTHOR
Hi Catherine, Good to see you this morning and thank you for the excellent comment and view.
- AUTHOR
Hello Ericajean. Thank you for visiting and for taking time to look at this recipe.
This is indeed an excellent hub as much for the tips as for the recipe.
Now this looks super healthy and yummy!
- AUTHOR
Hello Chef, Thank you for visiting this salad recipe and for sharing your son's enthusiasm for food. Waldorf salad is really good. You are what you eat. I appreciate your fine comment, votes and the share. Cheers.
- AUTHOR
Hi Frank, You are so organized. Thanks for including this recipe on your Super Bowl list. I hope you take pics and share them on line. See you later.
just letting you know this food item is going to be on my Super Bowl food list thanks again :)
- AUTHOR
Hi Crafty. Turning a watermelon into a fruit bowl is really fun. It's been years since I did that. Stuffed peppers and tomatoes are some of my favorites! Nice of you to visit and comment.
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.
- AUTHOR
Once I saw that the spelling differed, I just Googled the word. My oops.
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!
- AUTHOR
Vinaigrette...oh boy, I should have spell checked. Anyhow, I appreciate your return visit, Kathryn. Apple makes the spinach sweeter and goes well with the raspberry dressing.
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!
- AUTHOR
Thanks Kathryn, for letting me know you enjoyed this salad. You added some extras that I'm sure made it even more delicious. You are now making me hungry for an avocado salad. Guess I'll have to head out to the produce stand. Last time I was there I picked up some locally made raspberry jam that I will use to make raspberry vinegrette dressing for a delicious treat on spinach greens. I like to put walnuts, apples and a boiled egg on mine and drizzle it with the dressing. Yummo. Now I'm really hungry!
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
- AUTHOR
Thank you IslandBites. I appreciate your visit and your votes.
Nice idea. Vote up!
- AUTHOR
Hello Careermommy. Thanks for the compliment and the great idea for sharing the recipe. Hope you enjoy.
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!
- AUTHOR
Hello Prasetio, I'm hoping you'll get a chance to try this recipe. I love tomatoes, too. Tell your mom I said hi!
Thanks for the great comment and the votes. So nice to see you today.
- AUTHOR
Hi Kathryn, Oh I do hope you will give this recipe a try. I'm hungry for it right now, too, and have the ingredients on hand. Perhaps for tomorrow lunch. I was lucky to find avocados at Aldi this week for just 39 cents each. They were over a dollar at the big stores.
My Mom used to make us Spam salad in tomato shells so I converted that recipe for the avocado salad. I also like to use tomato shells for tuna salad or chicken salad in the same way.
Thanks so much for the wonderful comment, the votes and for sharing. Your comment made me feel really great tonight.
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!
- AUTHOR
Me too, KoffeeKlatch. I found some avocados today for only 39 cents each. Wow. A couple of days and they'll be ripe and ready to use.
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.
- AUTHOR
Hi RTalloni, So nice to meet another person who remembers Florida from times past. This lady was my Great Aunt Jessie too, as she was my Grandmother's sister. What a wonderful person she was. I'm glad to know you found this recipe useful and hope you enjoy preparing it. Thanks for stopping by.
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!
- AUTHOR
Hello Prasetio30, Nice to see you today and I'm glad you liked this one. Thank you for your sweet comment and for the votes.
Peg
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
- AUTHOR
Hello Pretty, Hope you love this salad as much as I do. Thank you for the votes and for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Hi Mary, Thanks for the five star rating and for the wonderful comment. Nice to have you visit today.
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
- AUTHOR
Thanks Sheila. You're right. We need more descriptive buttons like: Powerful, Yummy and Incredible. Send me some of your tomatoes, please. Smiles. Thanks for the votes and for stopping by.
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!) :)
- AUTHOR
Hi AliciaC. You are very welcome. Thanks for stopping by to check this recipe out. Nice to see you.
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!
- AUTHOR
Hi MsDora, You're right on the avocado front there. I sometimes shred carrots into the mix instead of the cheese if I'm feeling like being on the healthy side. Thanks for the votes and the nice comment. Good to see you.
Avocado anything sounds good to me; adding walnuts, olives and cheese only makes it better. Thanks for this recipe. Voted Up.
- AUTHOR
Hi there Ruby, I'll take a sample over to the Emerald Wells Cafe and see if they like it. Perhaps Earl will add it to the menu there. The time frame for my first taste of avocado is just about that same era. Aunt Jessie used to serve it on her pink Depression glass plates which were so pretty. Nice to see you here. Have missed you and thanks for the visit and great comments.
- AUTHOR
Rosemay! Wonderful to see you here today. I've missed our brunches together. Hope you are doing well and thank you so much for the sweet comments and the generous votes! Hope to see you later.
- AUTHOR
Twilanelson, I'm so pleased that you liked the memories that went along with this recipe. Just the other day when I first published this, my Mom mentioned Aunt Jessie out of the clear blue. She must have been in our midst.
Great to meet you and thank you for the wonderful comment.
- AUTHOR
Hi Deb. Thanks for taking a look at this avocado recipe. It is great on a warm summer day for a late lunch. Be sure to leave some room for dessert.
- AUTHOR
Hello Italianfood. So nice to meet you today and thank you for the visit. Avocado really is refreshing food. Hope to see you again.
- AUTHOR
Hello Faith, Thank you for coming by to read this recipe. It was a nice trip down memory lane for me to remember my late Aunt Jessie. She was my Grandmother's sister and lived to be 97.
Always a delight to see you here.
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.
- AUTHOR
Drbj, Hello! I have to agree with you that it was not among my favorites as a kid. Once I found out that it improved skin and was so nutritionally beneficial, I was hooked. Now I crave them. Thank you for liking the photos. From what I have read, it is most definitely a fruit.
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
- AUTHOR
Hi My Cook Book, Thanks for noticing the pictures and for the delightful votes. Nice to see you here.
- AUTHOR
Hello Shiningirisheyes, Thanks for dropping by. I love recipes with stuffed tomatoes in the summer-time, too.
- AUTHOR
Hi Carol7777, I wish I had a tree also. The winters get too cold here to grow this tropical delight. Makes me miss Florida even more. My friend who lives in Tampa has an avocado tree growing over her fence from the neighbor's yard. She has so many falling in her yard, she literally has to throw them away. Thanks for your remark about the cubing instructions. It is the easiest way I've found to keep the fruit intact. I'll look for you on Pinterest. I've just joined in there.
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.
- AUTHOR
Hello my dear friend Snakeslane. Wow, I have missed you lately and so glad to see you here. My Great Grandmother was so cool and I wish I could remember all her wonderful stories about the old days. I would love for you to visit Texas and would be delighted to cook up some meals to share together. So kind of you to stop in today. Regards back to you,
Peg
- AUTHOR
Billybuc, Well I hope you pass this along to Bev to enjoy. Too bad you don't like tomatoes. They are supposed to be the one thing you eat everyday to ward off disease and illness. I used to be afraid of the seeds and would only eat the end slice of a tomato. Since that time, I've conquered my fear of the red things.
Thank you for dropping in to leave such a funny comment. I appreciate you.
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
- AUTHOR
Thank you Susan. Your recipes are always mouthwatering. I love your blog and have learned so much from you there.
Peg
- AUTHOR
Hello Mckbirdbks,
It's what is for lunch many days since I've discovered where to get these at a wonderful price. I hope to write another one on the produce buys at Aldi Grocery Stores. Compared to Kroger and Tom Thumb who sell avocados at 4 for $5, these at Aldi's were 45 cents each! What a deal.
Glad to see you are out and about, watering your garden and back at the tree house. Hope to see you there after a while.
Kindly,
Peg
- AUTHOR
Hi Frank,
It's getting to the point where I don't cook or prepare anything without snapping a few photos. It is truly easy and no need to bother with hollowing out the tomato unless there's a reason to be fancy. Thank you for stopping in to comment. Nice to see you today.
- AUTHOR
Hello My Dear Maria,
Delighted to see you stop in and take a look at this recipe. You know, when I was a kid, I absolutely despised avocados. As I've grown older and realized their health benefits, I've learned to love them. Glad you liked this and hope you'll give it a try.
Thanks for the quick trip over and the great comment.
Love, Peg
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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