Recipe: Fried Avocado with Lime-Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Wanting to redeem myself from the monumental failure of my salted caramel candy apples — which devolved into sliced apples and a dip — I accepted the task of creating an avocado recipe for MissAvaCado‘s Cinco de Mayo Blogger Challenge. The results have me wondering if I’m cut out for challenges.

While the goal was to create an amazing guacamole recipe, as an easily distracted Gemini, I got sidetracked by the idea of avocado ice cream. As you can tell from the post title, that didn’t happen. First of all, I hadn’t frozen the ice cream maker’s drum, which requires a good 24 hours’ notice. Then, while I debated holding off for another day while the drum chilled, the avocados got impatient. And once you tick off an avocado, you get more than just a big pit with attitude.

So, with four clock-watching avocados staring me down, I panicked. The only Mexican dish I could think of was deep fried ice cream which meant I needed ice cream (obviously), batter and a deep frier. Not only did this take me further from the original challenge, I lacked the deep frier. And ice cream. So I streamlined my brilliant but off-base Deep-Fried Avocado Ice Cream concept  and ended up with simple Fried Avocado Slices With Dip. Which is kind of like guacamole, only in reverse since you dip with avocado slices, not into mashed avocados.

Again with the slices and dip? Clearly I’m in a rut.

To make my topsy-turvy, not-quite-guacamole, I started with a classic tempura batter, but the avocado’s natural oils made the coating doughy. Sticking to the Japanese theme, I turned to panko crumbs. They worked beautifully and required only a half inch of oil.

The results are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside —  the sort of thing you really shouldn’t eat too often but will find yourself craving out of the blue despite knowing better. I think it’s the lime-cilantro dipping sauce. Or the avocado. Or the panko crumbs. Or the combination. Or maybe I’m just destined to make sliced food with a dip and leave it at that.

While I can’t vouch for the health benefits of this dish, I can say with confidence it’s better for you than deep-fried ice cream. By how much? Don’t ask. Some things are best left unasked.

Besides, “Can I have some?” put all other questions aside and enjoy a little indulgence.