Avocados are delicious both grilled and raw.
It is a popular food among men and women in particular.
There are times when you just want to eat an avocado.
However, if you buy avocados at the supermarket, they can be quite expensive.
Avocados are expensive… What should I do?
Sometimes avocados are on special sale at a discount, but if you want a large avocado with good quality, the price will be several hundred yen.
You may be wondering, “Can’t I recreate avocado with what I have at home or with cheap ingredients? I’m sure many of you have wondered how to recreate avocados with ingredients you have at home or that are inexpensive.
In this article, I will introduce you to “Avocado Substitutes”.
Characteristics of avocados and points to consider when choosing a substitute
First of all, avocados have the following characteristics:
- Bright green color
- Thick and dense texture
- Unique flavor
The inside of an avocado is a bright yellow-green color, which you might not expect from the color of the skin on the surface.
The closer you get to the center of the seed, the more yellow it becomes, so you can use just one ingredient to brighten up a dish.
The texture of avocados is another reason why they are so popular, although it is a point of difference between different tastes.
The more ripe the avocado is, the more you can enjoy the sticky, buttery texture, and even if it is not ripe, you can enjoy the “crispy texture of the young part” and the “sticky texture of the ripe part” by heating it.
As for the taste, many people may feel that it is tasteless, but it is not completely tasteless; it has a slight unctuous pistachio-like flavor and a greenish taste like young watermelon or rape leaves.
It is best to choose a substitute based on these three factors: flavor, color (appearance), and texture.
4 avocado substitutes
Avocado Substitute 1: Green Banana
Some people may often drink bananas with avocado in a smoothie.
Young, unripe green bananas are less sweet than ripe bananas and can be used as a substitute because they have a greenish taste and texture similar to avocados.
They can also be eaten raw, baked, or fried.
And because green bananas contain more nutrients that help regulate the intestinal environment than regular ripe bananas, they can be expected to relieve constipation better than eating yellow bananas.
One thing to keep in mind is that since they are bananas, they have a unique sweetness and flavor that is different from avocados, so don’t get your hopes up too high that they are a substitute food that tastes exactly like avocados.
Avocado substitute 2: Edamame
Edamame is one of the most popular snack foods among adults and children alike.
You can substitute avocado for edamame with just a little modification.
It is very easy to do, just mash the boiled edamame until smooth.
If you add sugar or other ingredients, you will end up with zunda, but if you just mash the edamame without adding sugar, you will get the texture and flavor of avocado.
Edamame can also be used in a wide variety of dishes such as salads, pizza, pasta, etc. Compared to avocado, edamame can be purchased at any time of the year, including frozen ones, with little or no price fluctuation.
However, the disadvantage of edamame is that each one is small, so if you want to use them in large quantities, it will take a bit of time and effort.
Substitute for avocado 3: Asparagus
Asparagus is another popular food among women, just like avocado, isn’t it?
Asparagus can be used as a substitute for avocado by making good use of it.
All you have to do is grind the boiled asparagus with a blender until it becomes smooth, which is relatively easy to do.
One thing to keep in mind is that this is not a good idea if you are looking for texture.
Although asparagus can produce a flavor similar to that of avocado, the sticky texture characteristic of avocado will be difficult to reproduce with asparagus alone.
Substitute for avocado 4: Cream cheese
Cream cheese has a sticky texture but has a refreshing aftertaste.
It can also be used as a substitute for avocado.
You can cut it into small dice, or knead it until it is smooth, and it will have a sticky avocado-like texture that goes well with salads and other foods.
However, if you use only cream cheese, it is difficult to reproduce the greenish taste of avocado, so if you want to enjoy only the texture, this is a good substitute.
Substitutes + α for more avocado flavor
Although I have introduced various substitutes, it is difficult to replicate the texture of many of them.
Also, there are times when you want a more sticky texture, even though the texture is close.
If this is the case, you can easily make it more similar to avocado by adding one ingredient along with the substitute.
That ingredient is “cream cheese”!
Just add a little bit of cream cheese, which I have also introduced as a substitute, and mix it to create a sticky texture.
Cream cheese itself does not have a strong flavor, so it does not interfere with the taste of the ingredients.
It is also an ingredient that can be easily combined with anything, so if you feel that the texture is not enough, why not try adding cream cheese?
What avocados are not a substitute for?
Some things are difficult to substitute for avocado, even if you have them at home, so let’s look at some of them.
1) Butter
Since avocado is so high in qualities that it is called the butter of the forest, wouldn’t butter be a good substitute for avocado? Some people may think so.
However, the butter melts when heated and does not have a greenish flavor.
Butter is not a good substitute for avocado because it does not have the flavor or texture of avocado.
(2) Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise, with its rich taste and creaminess, is a perfect match for avocados.
However, mayonnaise alone cannot be used as a substitute for avocado because it is thick but not green and has a sour taste.
However, if you want to add a little creaminess to the substitute, you can add mayonnaise to it to make it taste more like avocado.
I suggest you use it in addition to your substitute!
Conclusion
- Avocado is characterized by its “bright green color”, “sticky and thick texture”, and “unique flavor”.
- Substitutes should be chosen based on these flavors, color (appearance), and texture.
- Grated edamame or asparagus can be used as a substitute.
- You can add cream cheese to the substitute to make it more like avocado.
- Butter and mayonnaise are difficult to use as substitutes.