A recent article in "Le Monde Diplomatique" entitled "The fruit that eats everything" drew my attention once again to the problematic background to the hype surrounding the supposed superfood avocado.

I have therefore researched an alternative to the hip avocado toast for you here.

But first, a few facts from the article above: Colombia has risen to become the second largest avocado producer in the world within a short space of time, helped by favorable conditions such as its tropical climate and proximity to oceans. The main customers are countries such as France and Germany. However, this boom has serious consequences for the environment and the health of local people. Chemicals that have been banned in Colombia since the 1950s are still being used without adequate state monitoring of water resources. This leads to health problems for local residents. Particularly bitter: the producers use banned chemicals but remove residues before the avocados are exported so as not to risk penalties. Among other things, this contradiction between environmental destruction and flawless export products is criticized in the article.

And what can I use as an alternative? You can find many articles online about alternatives such as walnuts, beet, linseed etc., but let's be honest. - But let's be honest. There is no similarity to the taste and consistency of an avocado.

So why not try the classic peas? Even in frozen form , they contain lots of protein, fiber and vitamins at a fraction of the price of avocados. A recipe I found on "Spiegel Online" is quick and easy to prepare, ideal for a quick snack at any time of day. As peas contain less fat than avocados, it is suggested to add some cream cheese or oil for creaminess, or use quark or cottage cheese for a more calorie-conscious option. The pea cream is versatile and can be used as a dip, side dish or pasta sauce.

These are the ingredients:

  • 150 to 200 g frozen peas
  • 2 slices of bread
  • 1-2 tbsp cream cheese (alternatively cottage cheese or quark)
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tsp dried herbs (e.g. dill and mint)
  • oil, salt, pepper

Simply blend everything with a hand blender.

Enjoy your meal!