A salted avocado eaten with a spoon

by Marisa McClellan, Posted Aug 12th 2007 @ 4:32PM

half an avocado, salted and ready to eat

I was born in Southern California, where avocados really do grow on trees. My parents had friends who had several of these trees and during avocado season would regularly give us grocery bags full of avocados. For the first nine years of my life, they were a staple rather than a luxury item and we ate them without ceremony. Frequently dinner would include half an avocado for each of us, the hole in the center filled with homemade Italian dressing. There were also deep bowls of guacamole eaten with health food store tortilla chips and cubed avocado bits tossed in with green salads.

These days avocados don't flow quite as freely into my life. I acquire them in ones and twos as opposed to dozens. But I still like the simple preparation best. In my book there is nothing better than half an avocado, a salt shaker and a spoon.

This philosophy of simple prep rather than complex can translate to many different foods. What are some of the other foods that you all out there in reader-land prefer eating without fuss or major effort?

photo by Marisa McClellan

Filed Under: Ingredients
Tags: america, avocado, fruit, luxury foods, simple prep

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)

8-13-2007 @7:04PM Maggie said... Wait! I forgot the best one ...

I live in a place where I can easily get 20 different kinds of dates. (The fruit -- not the romantic ritual.)

My favorite dessert is to split a date in half, slather it with goat cheese and eat. Instant cheesecake.
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8-14-2007 @4:22PM maria said... Random feedback from a surf-by reader- I discovered quite by accident that an avocado eaten with a cup of hot tea is really quite delicious. I was surprised at how well the flavors complement each other.

M
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8-14-2007 @4:48PM eva said... Sooo allergic to avocadoes--so I've never had the pleasure. When I was little and not so allergic, guacamole (which my mother loves and makes a lot) just tasted kinda . . . gray . . . .and pasty to me, y'know?

My favorite simple food pleasure is a warm peach from a sunny tree. Aaaaaaah!
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8-14-2007 @8:49PM MJ said... Salt and fresh cracked pepper and me!
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8-14-2007 @11:52PM dagjones said... When I was 16 I went to stay with a school mate in Nairobi, Kenya. His family had two massive avocado trees in front of the house. I'd never tried them before so my mate Buster brought in a few monsters that had fallen to the ground. He cut them up and smashed them with Worcester sauce and a little salt and pepper. Handed me a spoon and we went to town. I've never looked back. Buster was over 6 ft tall and 200 lbs solid at the age of sixteen. His mum said it was the avocados. Buster died from an asthma attack at 30 years old, one month before his first child was to be born. Avocados are a great reminder of a great guy.
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8-16-2007 @2:30PM Julie said... I'm a huge avocado fan, here are two of my favorite recipes for them; "Fried Avocados and Avocado Pie".
http://noshtalgia.blogspot.com/2007/04/fried-avocados.html
http://noshtalgia.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-not-easy-being-green.html
In their natuaral state with just a pinch of salt is also fine with me.
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8-18-2007 @11:49PM lorna said... I'm originally from jamaica and most of the time avacado is eaten as a side dish with salt thats how i grew up eating it.One time my friend thought i was wierd when she saw me pouring salt on my avacado burger.My asian friend said soy sauce is good too have yet to try that yet.
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8-19-2007 @12:50PM reigha said... Try slicing a slightly unripe mango with a potato peeler so it is thinly sliced, then salt the slices on a plate. THen eat. :) Happy belly.
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