The Ultimate Avo-disiac
This Valentine’s Day indulge in a feast for the senses and fuel the feelings of love and desire with avocado-based recipes for romance
Photo: The World Avocado Organisation
Food as a whole is widely considered to be the ‘sixth’ language of love; an evocative expression of emotion that can spark intimacy and create a sensual connection. Further heightened by foods considered an aphrodisiac, superior for stimulating amorous feelings and loving sensations - a relatively unknown advantage of the naturally arousing avocado!
This superfood is recognised as a source of many minerals and vitamins, including magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, C, E, K vitamins and B-group vitamins. Each is beneficial for the body in a number of ways, from lowering our risk of heart disease to improving our digestion. Though these aren’t the only powerful properties of this superfood - this unique combination of nutrients is also thought to be a natural aphrodisiac and an ideal ingredient for boosting desire on Valentine’s Day date night.
The Aztecs named avocados ‘āhuacatl’ (“testicles”) owing to the shape of this low-hanging fruit that grows in pairs, and reputedly deemed avocados as a sexual stimulant. This is because the avocado is a great source of vitamins E, B3, B5 and B6, which are multi-functional nutrients vital for helping the body store and release energy. These vitamins are also essential for encouraging healthy blood flow around all parts of the body, which can boost libido and stir romantic feelings.
Energy is essential to stamina levels, and avocados are proven to supply more energy per kilogram than many fruits and vegetables - almost double the energy of 100g of banana and 8 eight times more energy than 100g of tomatoes.
Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant that helps us to look and feel good from the inside out. It strengthens the immune system and enhances the appearance of skin and eyes.
Avocados also provide 485 mg of potassium per 100g, compared to the banana which contains just 326mg. Maintaining a healthy balance of potassium and sodium is essential for all body tissues, helping to promote optimum muscle function and contraction, a healthy heartbeat and normal blood pressure. However, be aware that if you are consuming alcohol and caffeine, for example, this may reduce potassium levels in the body and, in turn, increase fatigue. This Valentine’s Day, enjoy a sensual date night with delicious dishes created from the heart for the heart, packed with potassium-rich avocado.
The World Avocado Organisation brings you a three-course dinner that will go down a treat this Valentine's Day
AVOCADO CHIMICHURRI SERVED WITH GRILLED STEAK
SASHIMI-ROSE FLOWERPOT
Photo: The World Avocado Organisation
Ingredients
1 avocado, pit and skin removed
150g salmon sashimi, cut into slices
75g sushi rice, cooked according to the package
and seasoned with sushi vinegar
- For the nori and black sesame ‘soil’:
1 nori sheet, roughly crumbled
2 tbsp. black sesame seeds
1 tsp. ground ginger
Sea salt - To garnish: lime basil cress, 40g wakame or
seaweed salad, rehydrated - To serve: soy sauce, wasabi, pickled sushi ginger
Equipment
Food processor 2 tapas bowls or small terracotta plant pots
Method
- In a deep skillet, mix the crumbled nori, black sesame seeds, ginger and a pinch of sea salt together to make the ‘soil’. Toast on medium heat for 5–10 minutes. Pulse the mixture in a food processor until everything is thoroughly combined and resembles potting soil.
- To make your sashimi ‘rose’, start by cutting an avocado in half and removing the pit safely. Then, peel the skin off one half of the avocado. Cut into thin slices and fan out the avocado into a long line, with each of the slices overlapping one another, inserting a slice of salmon between every 2–3 slices of avocado. Slowly and steadily curl the mass of slices from one end to the other, forming your avocado rose.
- To assemble the pots, use 2 brown tapas bowls or small terracotta plant pots. Layer the base with the sushi rice, dividing it equally between the containers. Follow with a layer of nori and black sesame soil, packing it over the rice.
- Place the sashimi rose on top of the soil crumble and decorate with wakame and lime basil as pictured. Serve with soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger on the side.
