Butter does grow on trees

The rich, creamy avocados picked in your back garden are so much more than just a dependable ingredient for salads. How about trying your hand at avo cheesecake or hollandaise for something a little different?

If you’re looking for a true superfood you can’t go wrong with avocados, which range from large green fruit to smaller, round varieties with dark skins and a more intense flavour thanks to a higher concentration of oils in their flesh.

You’ve probably heard the warnings about their kilojoule content, but you really are better off tucking into an avo than eating another slice of bread. Slice avos into salads or enjoy guacamole with roast chicken or chops. Unlike other fruit, avos are particularly filling, so it’s quite difficult to overindulge in them.

The fat they contain is the healthy, “heart friendly”, anti-inflammatory, monounsaturated sort also found in olive oil. Avos are high in fibre too, and contain plenty of vitamins as well as minerals, including potassium – even more than bananas.

Peel the fruit with care: the dark-green flesh closest to the skin is the healthiest part. Rather pull the skin off the way you’d peel a banana, or scrape the flesh from the skin with a spoon.

Hmm, creamy butter straight from a tree!