Holy guacamole – it’s the avocado without a stone
PuT down the guacamole and step away from your smashed avocado on toast – there’s a new way to eat the trendy fruit.
Marks & Spencer has launched a stoneless variety that can be eaten whole, skin and all.
It means that ‘avocado hand’ – that most middle-class of injuries, caused when trying to cut open and destone the fruit with a knife – may be a thing of the past.
The new snackable ‘cocktail’ avocado is a small elongated version, approximately 2in3in long, and is the result of an unpollinated avocado blossom.
The fruit develops without a seed, which in turn stops the growth, giving a small, seedless variety which can be eaten raw or even deep-fried.
unlike a normal avocado, the skin of the cocktail version is edible and the whole fruit can be eaten. The flesh is smooth and creamy, pale in colour and rich in flavour.
They are grown in Spain and only available during December, when usually the crop is sent to a Parisian food market and bought by chefs to be used in top end restaurants.
It is a long way from when M&S first introduced the fruit to the uk in 1968 as an ‘avocado pear’. Some confused buyers, unsure how to eat them, would serve them as a dessert with custard.
Now, thanks to the fruit becoming trendy among millennials, you can buy supersize and mini versions, ready-to-eat sliced avocado lunch pots, a cold avocado soup and even an ice cream.
Health-conscious guacamole fans can buy the avocado light, which is sold under the Isla Bonita brand, and has a third less fat than normal versions, while the giant ‘Clara’ is around five times bigger than the standard Hass variety.
The avocado has become fashionable as a health food, as it has the highest protein and oil content of any fruit and may help to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
eating them has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels and the potassium content regulates blood pressure.
M&S agronomist Charlotte Curtis said: ‘We’ve had the mini, the giant, ready-sliced and we’re now launching the holy grail of avocados – stoneless.
‘This amazing fruit has been on our radar for a couple of years and we’re very excited to have finally been able to get hold of some for our customers to try.
‘ We know they will be in demand and we’ve only been able to get our hands on a limited amount.’
She added: ‘They’re perfect for snacking and lunchboxes as they can be eaten whole but can also be used for a beautiful garnish or in a salad.’
The packs, which contain four or five and weigh 250g, will be available in selected stores at £2 each.