Avocado Salad

📜 Origin & History

Ensalada de Aguacate (Spanish: Avocado Salad) is a Latin American salad dish: ripe avocados (Persea americana) are cut into pieces or slices and tossed with tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and sometimes jalapeno chili to make a fresh salad. Ensalada de Aguacate is a standard side salad in Mexican, Cuban, Colombian, and Peruvian cuisine, served alongside grilled dishes, rice-and-bean dishes, and tacos. Avocado (Persea americana) originates from Mesoamerica; archaeological evidence shows avocado consumption in the Mexican Tehuacan Valley 8,000-10,000 years ago. The word 'avocado' comes from the Aztec Nahuatl 'ahuacatl'; the Spanish brought the avocado to Europe in the 16th century. Mexico, with over 1 million tonnes annually, is the world's largest avocado producer; the Hass variety (70% of world production) comes from California. In Germany, Ensalada de Aguacate is common in Mexican and Latin American restaurants; avocados are available year-round in German supermarkets.