I LOVE Avocados: Want some recipes?

I LOVE Avocados!!! Did I write that again? I guess so, but it is so true. I have been in love with them ever since I remember. My abuelita used to put them in everything! growing up we truly ate avocados every single day - I can believe how lucky we were and how much we took these lovely fruit for granted! Avocados are so special, creamy and smooth, almost buttery in taste and consistency - they really lend themselves to so many applications in the kitchen.

I did not realized how lucky we were until I moved out of Venezuela and I could not find avocados in the store all the times, and when I did, they were horrible: hard and tasteless. That was a few years ago. Recently, I have  been able to find Avocados from Mexico and I have been extremely happy with them. They ripe perfectly and they taste as good as I remember y childhood avocados.

Did you know that Mexico is the only place in the whole world in where the avocados trees give fruit 4 times a year? Imagine that! and believe me an avocado tree can give you hundreds of avocados in one go. How cool is that? I would love to live in a nice warm place in where I could have an avocado tree in my backyard.

A few weeks ago I promise to cook a Venezuelan lunch to some friends of mine at work. I chose to make Reina Pepeadas! You are probably asking: what is that? They are my favorite ever Arepas! Reina Pepeadas are Arepas filled with an Avocado and Chicken Salad. They are very traditional in my lovely Caracas. My abuelit used to make me this areas almost every weekend as she knew Iiked them so much. Now I also know it was because it was a sure way to get me all the great nutrients and healthy fats that avocados have (believe or not I did not use to eat much as a kid).

I went to the store bought some Avocados from Mexico and a few other ingredients and got cooking! 

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• Chicken (6 pieces breast and thighs)

• 2 or 3 Avocados from Mexico

• 1 or 2 tbsp of very finely chopped onion

• 2 or 3 tbsp Mayonnaise

• 1 tsp mustard (Dijon or brown preferred)

• Lime juice (1 lime)

• Cilantro and queso fresco as garnish (optional)

• 6 Arepas (for recipe click here)

• Salt and pepper

• Butter

Boil chicken until done and set aside to cool down.

In the mean time, make the arepas (click here for recipe)

When the chicken is cold – shred it and put on a mixing bowl. Add chopped avocados (including the pits – it keeps the avocados from going brown), onions, and mix. Add mayonnaise with a touch of mustard until you get the right consistency (like potato salad). Add salt and pepper to taste and the lemon juice.

When arepas are ready, cut them like if you were making a pocket on a pita bread. Spread butter on the inside of the arepa, fill with the chicken mix and sparkle some cilantro or fresh crumbled white cheese (queso fresco) if you want.

I promise you you will be liking your fingers!!!

If you are still hungry for avocados, you can also try the following:

Simple Avocado and Palmito salad: Just take a couple of Avocados from Mexico, cut them into slices and serve in a plate with a few chopped palmettos. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. That is it!

Guasacaca: This is the Venezuelan version of a Guacamole - I took the classic Venezuelan recipe and gave it my own twist.  (click here for recipe)

Let me know if you like the recipes! For more recipes you can visit the Avocados from Mexico Fan Recipe pages - They are full of wonderful recipes created by fans in both English and Spanish.