Avocados and kiwis are two popular fruits that are delicious on their own or combined in various recipes. But can you safely mix avocado and kiwi together? Let’s take a closer look at whether these two fruits make a good pairing.
Quick Answer: Yes, you can mix avocado and kiwi together
The short answer is yes, avocado and kiwi can be combined to make a creamy, tangy pairing. The soft, rich texture of avocado complements the sweet-tart flavor of kiwi nicely. Some popular ways to enjoy avocado and kiwi together include:
- Adding kiwi slices or cubes to an avocado salad
- Making an avocado kiwi salsa
- Blending them together into a smoothie
- Layering sliced kiwi and avocado on toast
When putting avocado and kiwi together, the key is balancing their flavors and textures. Kiwi adds a bright sweet-tart pop that prevents the avocado from tasting too rich and creamy on its own. Meanwhile, the avocado lends a smooth, creamy backbone that complements the kiwi’s crunch.
Nutritional Benefits of Avocado and Kiwi
Both avocado and kiwi offer nutritional benefits, so combining them can give you an extra health boost:
Avocado Nutrition:
- Healthy fats – Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that supports heart health.
- Fiber – A whole avocado provides around 10 grams of fiber to promote digestion.
- Vitamin E – This antioxidant vitamin protects your cells from damage.
- Potassium – Avocados offer more potassium than bananas, which regulates blood pressure.
Kiwi Nutrition:
- Vitamin C – One kiwi provides over 100% of your daily vitamin C needs for antioxidant protection.
- Fiber – The fuzzy skin and flesh contribute to the kiwi’s 5 grams of fiber per fruit.
- Potassium – With 312 milligrams potassium per kiwi, this fruit helps control blood pressure.
- Vitamin K – Important for blood clotting, kiwis contain a day’s worth of vitamin K.
By combining avocado and kiwi, you get a wider range of vitamins, minerals, fiber, potassium, healthy fats, and antioxidants.
Taste and Texture
The rich, creamy texture of avocado pairs nicely with the sweet, tart and slightly crunchy texture of kiwi. Here’s a closer look at each fruit’s taste and texture profile:
Avocado:
- Texture – smooth, creamy, rich, and thick
- Flavor – subtle and nutty, high fat content
Kiwi:
- Texture – juicy, slightly crunchy, small seeds
- Flavor – sweet yet tart, hints of strawberry
The high fat content of avocado balances out the sweet-tart flavor of kiwi, while the kiwi’s crunch provides contrast to the avocado’s silkiness. Their combined flavors and textures complement each other nicely.
Potential Downsides of Mixing Avocado and Kiwi
While avocado and kiwi can make a tasty combo, there are a few potential downsides to consider:
- Texture – Not everyone may enjoy the contrast between the kiwi’s crunch and avocado’s creaminess.
- Flavor – The tart kiwi may overwhelm the delicate avocado flavor for some palates.
- Short shelf life – Fresh cut kiwi accelerates the oxidation and browning process in avocado once mixed.
- Cost – Both avocado and kiwi can be pricier fruits, so mixing them may not suit every budget.
To maximize freshness and flavor when combining these fruits, it’s best to mix them just before eating. Cutting the avocado and kiwi right before assembling the dish will prevent premature browning. Taste as you go and aim for a balanced ratio so neither fruit becomes overpowering.
Serving Ideas for Avocado Kiwi Recipes
Here are some delicious ways to enjoy avocado and kiwi together:
Avocado Kiwi Salad
For a healthy salad, combine diced kiwi, avocado cubes, mixed greens, sliced onion, and your desired protein like chicken or chickpeas. Drizzle with a kiwi avocado dressing made from mashed avocado, kiwi, lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Avocado Kiwi Salsa
Mix diced avocado and kiwi with onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, and tomato for a unique salsa to enjoy with tortilla chips. The kiwi adds sweetness to balance the creaminess of avocado.
Avocado Kiwi Smoothie
Blend ripe avocado and kiwi with Greek yogurt, milk or juice, and honey for a creamy, tangy smoothie. Spinach or kale can also be added for extra nutrition.
Avocado Kiwi Toast
Top toasted bread with mashed avocado, sliced kiwi, prosciutto, and a drizzle of honey for a tasty bruschetta-style snack or breakfast.
Kiwi Avocado Ice Cream
For a cool, refreshing dessert, blend frozen kiwi and avocado with condensed milk and lime juice, then freeze to create an avocado kiwi ice cream.
Storing Guacamole with Kiwi
If you want to mix kiwi into guacamole, take care to store it properly to prevent browning. Here are some tips:
- Prepare the guacamole right before serving and mix in diced kiwi just before eating.
- Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole to prevent air exposure.
- Add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice over the guacamole as the acidity will slow oxidation.
- Store guacamole with kiwi in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days maximum.
The acidic kiwi accelerates browning, so guacamole with kiwi is best consumed immediately for optimal flavor and texture.
Do Avocados and Kiwis Go Together?
While avocado and kiwi both have excellent nutritional profiles, their flavors and textures are less of an obvious match. Here are some pros and cons of pairing these two fruits:
Pros:
- Kiwi’s sweet-tart flavor balances out avocado’s richness
- Creamy avocado and crunchy kiwi provide textural contrast
- Vitamins C, E, and K are boosted by combining both fruits
- Adds unique flavor and nutrition to smoothies, salsas, salads, and more
Cons:
- Strong kiwi flavor may overpower delicate avocado
- Shortens the freshness window once blended together
- Not everyone will enjoy the flavor and texture pairing
- More expensive to use two pricier fruits in one dish
While not a classic pairing, avocado and kiwi can complement each other when used in moderation. Balance their ratio so neither overpowers, and add other ingredients to round out the flavors. Both fruits will provide a boost of nutrients and antioxidants when enjoyed together.
The Best Time of Year for Avocado Kiwi Recipes
The optimal times of year to enjoy fresh avocado and kiwi together are:
Avocados:
- Fall – October through November
- Spring – March through May
Kiwis:
- Fall – September through November
- Winter – December through March
Look for peak season, high quality avocados and kiwis for maximum flavor and nutrition. Depending on your region, aim for recipes mixing these fruits in early fall through early spring when both are typically in season.
| Month | Avocado | Kiwi |
|---|---|---|
| January | Not in season | In season |
| February | Not in season | In season |
| March | In season | In season |
| April | In season | Out of season |
| May | In season | Out of season |
| June | Out of season | Out of season |
| July | Out of season | Out of season |
| August | Out of season | Out of season |
| September | Out of season | In season |
| October | In season | In season |
| November | In season | In season |
| December | Not in season | In season |
As shown in the table, March and October through November are typically ideal times to enjoy both avocados and kiwis at peak freshness and flavor.
Key Takeaways on Mixing Avocado and Kiwi
Here are the main points to remember about combining avocado and kiwi:
- Avocado and kiwi can be mixed together for a creamy, tangy pairing.
- Add kiwi to avocado salads, salsas, smoothies, toast toppings and other dishes.
- Both fruits offer nutritional benefits like healthy fats, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.
- Store guacamole with kiwi for no more than 1-2 days maximum in the fridge.
- Balance the ratio so kiwi doesn’t overwhelm delicate avocado flavor.
- For best results, mix avocado and kiwi when both are fresh and in season.
While not a traditional combination, avocado and kiwi can liven up salads, dips, smoothies and more when their flavors are balanced. Mix up your fruit pairings by giving this creamy, tangy duo a try!
