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The double life of an avocado

My friend Vered walked into my house carrying a pound of French feta cheese and some freshly baked pitas she found at a Middle Eastern store. It was the kind she used to cook with in her Israeli home. Just a taste made us realize how hungry we were, though we were not near any mealtime. Nonetheless, we had 20 minutes before we had to run, so that’s a great excuse for a snack.

The last beautifully ripe Mexican avocado I had in the basket was staring at me. So I offered to make a Mexican Farolada out of her pita, of course to top with some fresh Guacamole.

The Farolada, named after the Farolito chain of taco restaurants, consists of pita bread stuffed with Mexican Manchego cheese (similar to Monterey Jack), thrown on the grill until the cheese oozes out. If let to sit there per your request, it will become crispy too.

I turned around to start chopping some Serrano chile for the guacamole when Vered said she had another plan for my avocado and her pita: the Israeli way. Which, she said in a challenging fashion, was incredibly tasty.

Now, you can’t just walk into my kitchen and tempt me with something I have never eaten before.

We split that creamy, perfect avocado in half.

She mixed hers with feta cheese, green olives, lime juice (much to her dismay since she never uses limes, but it is very strange to find a lemon in my kitchen) olive oil and salt. She didn’t fill her pita with anything, just heated it up.

While the Farolada was getting nice and crunchy, I prepared my favorite guacamole version: smashed avocado with rivers of lime juice, generous amounts of serrano chile and cilantro and a healthy sprinkling of salt. No chopped tomatoes in there, thank you.

She ate my Mexican version and nodded in approval; I ate her Mediterranean one and loved it. In fact, I think I liked hers more. It seemed more exotic, plus I really enjoy the tangy taste of French feta.

Nonetheless, I finished with a piece of mine, if only because it tasted like home.

Here, you can try them both! See what you think.

Pati's Guacamole Ranchero with Faroladas

Guacamole Ranchero con Faroladas

Recipe Yield

4 servings

Cooking time

15 minutes

Rate this recipe

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

Guacamole:

  • 2 ripe Mexican avocados halved, pitted, peeled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped white onion
  • 1 serrano chile or to taste, minced (seeding is optional and may substitute with jalapeño)
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped cilantro leaves
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste

Faroladas:

  • 4 whole pita breads
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican Manchego cheese or Monterey Jack

To Prepare

To make the guacamole:

  • Gently mix ingredients in a bowl and serve. It can be prepared a couple of hours in advance if covered and stored in the refrigerator.

To make the faroladas:

  • Heat a comal or heavy dry skillet over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Gently heat the pita breads over the comal or skillet for about 15 seconds per side. Remove and make a horizontal slice halfway through, making a long and wide pocket.
  • Stuff each pita with about 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Place them back on the hot comal or skillet and heat for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, to your liking, until cheese is melted and depending how crunchy or soft you want the pita bread. For crunchier, leave longer. Remove from heat, cut into 4 pieces and eat with the guacamole.

Comments

8comments inThe double life of an avocado

  1. Azzam Sharrab

    Dec 16

    Really it’s so good and l love pati when I Saw her TV show.. Love her food and IAM from middle East so I try to mix our food with mixan thanks pati you are the best.

    1. Pati Jinich

      Dec 17

      Thank you so much, Azzam!

  2. Esmeralda Garcia

    Nov 08

    Pati, I just love the little stories with each recipe. Thank you, Esmeralda Garcia from Texas

    1. Pati

      Nov 08

      Thank YOU Esmeralda!

  3. Marilyn

    May 01

    Pati I love your recipes!!!! I have traveled in parts of Mexico and am addicted to the flavors & foods!! I have friends in the Yucatan so I appreciate that you include this region. I am ordering your cookbook today & can’t wait until it gets here!!!! Abrazos !!!! Marilyn

    1. Pati

      May 01

      Thank you so much, Marilyin!!! I hear you on that addiction, it is shared…

  4. Marina

    May 27

    Pati! loved it! love the site, pictures, recipes, your stories. Jorge is inspired, except we don’t have any of the ingredients.. oh wait, we do have avocado. We’ll try them both ways and let you and Vered know. Congratulations!
    Marina

    1. Pati Jinich

      May 27

      Gracias Marina!!!! Si, si, si, please tell us how that avocado prepared both in the Israeli and the Mexican way turned out in your Maryland kitchen… aside from with a multiple personality! I will do my best to stock up this site with inspiring and yummy things.. Many hugs, Pati

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