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
Recipe Yield
Cooking time
Rate this recipe
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
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.
Pati Jinich
Dec 17
Thank you so much, Azzam!
Esmeralda Garcia
Nov 08
Pati, I just love the little stories with each recipe. Thank you, Esmeralda Garcia from Texas
Pati
Nov 08
Thank YOU Esmeralda!
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
Pati
May 01
Thank you so much, Marilyin!!! I hear you on that addiction, it is shared…
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
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