Robert Bell's

Wines of Canada

Since 1992

Wine and Avocados

The Avocado is a tree that is native to South Central Mexico, classified as a member of the flowering plant family Lauraceae. Avocado also refers to the tree's fruit, which is botanically a large berry containing a single seed.

Avocados: Contain antioxidant monounsaturated oils, essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. Promote cartilage repair in osteoarthritis.
This fruit is prized for its high nutrient value and is added to all sorts of dishes due to its good flavour and rich texture. It is the main ingredient in guacamole.

It is a very popular food especially among health conscious individuals. There are various kinds of Avocados. The most popular type is called Hass avocado. It is often called “alligator pear,” which is very descriptive because it tends to be shaped like a pear and have green, bumpy skin… like an alligator. The yellow-green flesh inside the fruit is eaten, but the skin and seed are discarded.

Avocados are very nutritious and contain a wide variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals.

Avocados do not contain any cholesterol or sodium, and are low in saturated fat. They are very high in potassium, more than a banana.

Avocado is Loaded With Heart-Healthy Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

Studies have shown that avocados can

Reduce total cholesterol levels significantly.

Reduce blood triglycerides by up to 20%.

Lower LDL cholesterol by up to 22%.

Increase HDL (the “good”) cholesterol by up to 11%.

Not only do avocados increase antioxidant absorption from other foods, they are also high in antioxidants themselves.

This includes nutrients called Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are incredibly important for eye health

Multiple studies have shown that extracts from avocado and soybean oil, called Avocado and Soybean unsaponifiables, can reduce symptoms of arthritis of the bones, called osteoarthritis

Pairing avocado dishes with zesty whites, such as Sauvignon Blancworkk well. “The mouth-watering acidity in the wine cuts through the sweetness and fattiness of the fruit. That’s why a non-vintage sparkling wine or Pinot Grigio also works.”

Rieslings are food friendly in general. In picking a Riesling for guacamole, a slightly sweeter one is best!

A simple Guacamole Recipe

Ingredients

3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled

1 lime, juiced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1/2 medium onion, diced

1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve.

Recipe courtesy of Alton Brown

Ingredients for Chicken Mango Salad with Avocado

1 cup cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized cubes

1 avocado, diced

3/4 cup diced mango (fresh or frozen will work)

3 tbs. diced red onion

2/3 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt (can adjust depending on how creamy you want it to be)

1/2 lime, juiced

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Mix together all of the ingredients in a bowl.

Serve over greens, in a wrap, or on some bread or a croissant.

INGREDIENTS for Slow Cook Turkey Chili from Cooking Chat

1 tbsp olive oil

2 onions, chopped

7 cloves garlic, minced

2 large jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and flesh finely chopped

1 serrano pepper, seeds removed and flesh finely chopped

32 ozs diced tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 lbs ground turkey

2 14 oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp coriander

2 tsp paprika

½ tsp cinnamon

1 tsp dried oregano

1 or 2 avocados, peeled and diced

optional shredded cheese for topping

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the onions, cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add the turkey to the skillet. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the turkey meat begins to brown. Add the garlic toward the end of this browning time.

Transfer the turkey and onions to a slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the avocado and the cheese, to the slow cooker: peppers, tomato paste, kidney beans, and dried spices. Stir to combine the ingredients.

Cover the slow cooker, and cook on low for 7.5 hours.

When the cooking time is done, serve the chili in bowls, topped with the chopped avocado and cheese if you are using it. Enjoy!

suggested wine a Syrah, or you could also go with a Zinfandel.
Other possible wines that go with Avacados are Rosé wines and Gruner Veltliner. Hester Creek Old Vines Trebbiano! has also been recommended.

A beer batter AdvcadoTaco

Mimi Holtz owner of the website Mimi Avocado suggest a Merlot with her Avocado and Crabmeat Endive Appetizer. Check out her website for more receipts .
Two wines I would pair avocades with Chaberton Estate Reserve Bacchus and Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery Récolte Blanche .
In conclusion, it seems that simple Avocado and Guacamole go best with light refreshing whites. Reds come into play with more complex receipts
Please report typos
wine and your health