Over the past couple of years, we have seen avocados put in everything from smoothies to beauty products.
Now they are showing up in all sorts of cocktails, and what is more, they taste great!
The South African Avocado Growers’ Association team says that whether on the side, on top, or inside – green-skinned or dark-skinned – it’s easy to add an avo to your craft cocktail, and shared a few recipes you can try at home.
1. Avocado mint mojito
Makes: 4 small glasses
Ingredients
Handful of fresh mint leaves (about 40 leaves or more), rinsed
3 limes, rinsed
2 tsp white sugar
2 ripe, avocados, peeled, stoned, and diced
50ml rum, optional
500ml crushed ice or ice cubes
1 litre of soda water, chilled
Method
Reserve 4 sprigs of mint for garnish. Tear the remaining mint leaves up and place them in a large shaker or large mason jar with a lid.
Cut one lime in quarters and place one quarter in each glass as a garnish.
Cut the remaining 2 limes into quarters and place in the shaker with mint leaves and add the sugar. Crush with a muddler or a wooden spoon to release the mint flavour.
Add the diced avocado, and rum if using, and mash well. Add the crushed ice and close the lid of the shaker. Shake well until the avocado is mixed with the rest of the ingredients. Pour in half of the soda water and stir gently to combine – take care as the soda will fizz.
Fill four glasses with more ice, strain the avocado mojito into the glasses, and top up with more soda. Garnish with a mint sprig and serve.
2. Frozen avocado and pink grapefruit margarita
Serves: 2
Ingredients
2-3 tbsp salt flakes
25ml Triple Sec
2 tbsp agave syrup
1 cup pink grapefruit juice
2 cups ice
2 wheels of pink grapefruit
Method
To salt-rim the glasses, place the salt flakes in a shallow bowl or on a plate. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a glass and then dip in the salt flakes so that it is evenly distributed.
To make the margarita, place the avocado, tequila, Triple sec, agave syrup, grapefruit juice, and ice in a high-speed blender and blend until slushy.
Pour into the salt-rimmed glasses and garnish with slices of pink grapefruit. Serve immediately, preferably with avocado tacos.
4 tbsp dry vermouth
Tajin spice or chilli lime seasoning (optional)
Method
Pour all ingredients into a blender and purée until smooth.
Pour into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake and strain into a chilled Tajin-lined martini glass.
