Now that everyone is home and cooking more, why not try some new ingredients and cooking methods.
People are used to cooking in vegetable oil, olive oil, lard, and butter but cooking with avocado oil can add flavor and a healthy alternative to the other cooking oils. Avocado oil can be used to fry foods, to make marinades, for unique salad dressings, and in baking.
What is Avocado Oil?
This is a cooking oil made by pressing fresh avocado pulp to extract the 25% fat it contains. This vegetable oil has a very high smoke point of 510 degrees or higher. It also has more than 50% monounsaturated fat, the good kind. This is a cooking oil that is better for a person and more heart-healthy. Avocado oil is rich in omega-9 fatty acids, vitamin E, and lutein.
This healthy cooking oil is available at c60purplepower.com. There are several ways to purchase this oil and one of them combines it with C60 which is an antioxidant. Avocado oil is only as high a quality as the avocados it is made from and the process used to make it. It should be organic, extra virgin,cold-pressed, and unrefined. Once you purchase avocado oil, it should be used within 6 months of being opened and stored in a cool, dry place.
Is Avocado Oil Healthy?
This is a heart-healthy cooking oil with high levels of oleic acid or monounsaturated fat and other nutrients. This healthy cooking oil is even more healthy when consumed raw in salad dressings and other uncooked recipes but retains much of its goodness with cooking. It only contains 12 % saturated fats which are a lower level than found in coconut oil, cottonseed oil, palm oil, olive oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, and others. It also retains more healthy phytosterols after cooking than some oils.
Avocado oil has gained popularity because of its taste and health benefits. The Paleo diet people like it as an alternative to coconut oil for healthy fat. It is produced in Mexico and the United States. This oil has a neutral flavor and does not have an aftertaste.
Some benefits of avocado oil include diabetes prevention, reduction of high cholesterol, obesity, and high triglyceride levels. It is also thought to reduce the effects of Arthritis. Avocado oil can help lower blood pressure and improve skin problems.
Cooking With Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is great to bake, roast, or fry with because of the high smoke point, but it is also very good for salads, marinades, hummus, smoothies, and homemade mayo. It works well for cooking eggs and even on popcorn. 4 tips for cooking with olive oil include:
- Use avocado oil to replace other cooking oils such as coconut oil, vegetable oils, or canola oil for a fresher taste.
- Avocado oil is very good as an ingredient in marinades because of its neutral flavor.
- Avocado oil can be drizzled over salads, toast, or it can be drizzled over vegetables before they are roasted. It can also be drizzled over cold soups.
- Consider using avocado oil as part of a marinade for grilling meat. It can also be used as a substitute for eggs in breaded or baked dishes.
Some Avocado Oil Recipes
There are some avocado oil recipes that are easy to make and taste really good. They are a good place to start cooking with avocado oil.
* Herb infusing oil for dipping or drizzling bread:
Mix balsamic vinegar, avocado oil, Italian herbs, and cracked black pepper together in a small shallow bowl. Dip slices of Italian bread into it and enjoy it.
* Roasted Vegetables with Avocado oil:
Add 1 Tablespoon Avocado oil to a large saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon minced garlic and stir for one minute. Add a collection of vegetables including 1/2 red and yellow bell peppers, 6 chopped mushrooms, 4 chopped broccoli florets, 1/2 of chopped zucchini, and 1/2 of chopped summer squash. Cook about two minutes until just starting to wilt or crisp-tender. Add 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, then stir and remove from heat, serving immediately.
* Avocado oil vinaigrette:
In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard and 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, then slowly add 1/4 cup avocado oil in a thin stream while whisking. Whisk until the ingredients are well-mixed and then add salt and pepper to taste and combine. Serve this over a green salad of your choosing. A person can also substitute avocado oil in any favorite dressing recipe.
* Spaghetti with avocado pasta sauce:
Boil 12 ounces of spaghetti noodles in a large pot of salted water for 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and save 1/2 Cup of the water. Using a blender or food processor, pulse the 2 avocados, one garlic clove, one bunch of chopped scallions, the juice from one lemon, reserved water, and 1/4th cup avocado oil until smooth. Add the sauce to the cooked pasta in a large bowl and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Divide into individual portions on plates and garnish with fresh parsley.
Remember, you can substitute avocado oil for any of the other oils or butter for frying, sauteing, baking, stir-frying, or in unbaked desserts and salads. That favorite dip or guacamole, or hummus recipe can be made with healthy, fresh-tasting avocado oil. Avocado oil has a more neutral taste that allows the flavors of the other ingredients to shine through.
For those who want to use healthier ingredients without sacrificing taste or texture, avocado oil is a good choice of cooking oil or drizzling oil. It is affordable and reasonably easy to find in stores or online. Make sure to buy high-quality avocado oil made by the cold press method with as little processing as possible. It is an added benefit to purchasing avocado oil mixed with healthy nutrients such as C60. Give avocado oil a try and you may never go back to some of the other cooking oils.
And, as an added bonus, many people use avocado oil for a light sunscreen, a hair conditioner, or a dry scalp treatment. It only takes a small amount for a large benefit. A person can also use avocado oil to soothe and heal dry skin, chapped skin, or calm itchy skin. Avocado oil is good at hydrating and moisturizing skin anywhere on the body.
