Taste Australia Launch 'Tasty & Nutritious' Avocado Campaign

Taste Australia Haas Avocado Display Stand @Jaya Grocer, Starling Mall

Have you heard that Avocados have taken the food industry by storm as one of the most consumed fruits on the market? Yes, this creamy, delicious superfood aka 'Green Goddess of fruits' is packed full of nutrients and healthy fats, making it a popular and must-have ingredient in a more healthier meal choice for consumers nowadays.

Taste Australia, the national brand representing the Australian horticulture industry to support and drive the demand of fresh produce through engagements in key export markets, launched a Tasty and Nutritious Avocado campaign last week @Jaya Grocer Starling Mall. I was invited along to cover this event, which aims to inspire health-conscious Malaysians to make healthier food choices, as part of a more healthier lifestyle.

Caitlin Noble (Trade Commissioner of Austrade), Alexandra Prabaharan (Nutrition & Health Advocate) & Marc Francois (Fresh Distribution Centre Head, Jaya Grocer) 

Good news is that we can take advantage of these yummy, rich and creamy Australian Avocados of the highest quality all year round. And according to Caitlin Noble, Trade Commissioner of Austrade, they're air freighted at optimum maturity into Malaysia, ensuring freshness and ripeness. She claims that "When customers buy Australian Avocados, not only do they get 'farm to table' freshness, they are also buying into the country's very high environmental, food safety and employment requirements. And because we're so close, we can deliver the freshest products to Asia in 48 hours!"

Opportunities for increasing supply into Malaysia has been made possible through the expectation of a large Hass Avocado harvest from growing regions all over Australia and continuing growth in production.

According to certified nutritionist and health advocate, Alexandra Prabaharan, Australian Avocados are not only superior in taste but were also grown in a safe environment with generations of expertise involved to ensure they were the highest quality avocados available.

She said, "Many know of the buttery and tasty appeal of the avocado but not everyone is aware of its powerful health benefits. The unique combination of vitamins and minerals found in avocados can:

• help keep your immune system strong
• boost your energy
• enhance brain power 
• increase bone strength 
• aid gut health
• support healthy skin
• put you in a better mood!

Ms Prabaharan further added that avocados could also boost the nutrition of other healthy foods, with research showing that adding avocado to a salad can increase your ability to absorb key nutrients in other fresh vegetables such as lycopene from red tomatoes and beta carotene from orange carrots.

Alexandra Prabaharan making some yummy avocado treats

During her demo session, she shared the many exciting ways to enjoy avocados and their versatility by producing 3 simple tasty recipes, which comprised of eggs, a smoothie and chocolate mousse dessert. Whether you're making a dip, salad, pasta, sandwich, smoothie or dessert, avocados are a fantastic ingredient to bring that creamy texture and bundle of health benefits to every dish.

All the many different recipes you can make using Avocados

Avocado Chocolate Mousse, Malaysian Avocado Smoothie & Avocado Devilled Egg

Sharing below for you the recipes for the 3 yummy Avocado treats in the pic above :

Avocado Devilled Eggs 

Serves 6

Cooking Time: 10 mins

1 ripe avocado

6 hardboiled eggs

2 tsp mustard

1 squeeze of lime

1 pinch cayenne

1 pinch paprika

Cilantro

Cut the eggs in half and spoon out the yolk. Mash the yolk with the avocado, mustard, lime, cayenne, and paprika. Pipe this back into the hollowed-out eggs and sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

Malaysian Avocado Smoothie

Serves 2 

Cooking Time: 5 mins

1 avocado

1 Tbs gula Melaka, heated with bruised pandan leaf

3/4 cup almond milk

1/4 cup coconut cream

Blend everything till smooth and creamy. Enjoy cold.

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Serves 2

Prep time: 5 mins

Setting time: 30 mins

1 avocado

1 banana, brown and ripe

1/4 cup coconut milk

1-3 Tbs honey, depends on the ripeness of the banana 

2-3 Tbs cocoa powder, depending on how chocolatey you like it

Assorted berries for topping

Put all the ingredients in a food processor or in a bowl with a hand held immersion blender and blend till smooth. Put into a serving dish and chill in the fridge for at least 30 mins to set and top with berries.

You can try these flavoursome Australian Haas Avocados at participating retailers including your local Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer & AEON supermarkets. So head down and jump on board the Avo-wagon to a more healthier lifestyle!

To find out more info, visit Australian Avocados website at http://australianavocados.com.au/ and also on social media FB: www.facebook.com/AustralianAvocados/  IG: @australianavocados