Fried Avocado

Served With a Spicy Cilantro-Lime Mayo

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Published on 05/5/21
fried avocado wedges with chili lime mayo for dipping
The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 16 pieces
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
290 Calories
21g Fat
20g Carbs
5g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 290
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 3g 17%
Cholesterol 52mg 17%
Sodium 359mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 6mg 28%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 305mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you love avocado but are growing a little tired of avocado toast and guacamole, these crispy fried avocado wedges are an excellent alternative. The avocado wedges are breaded with a simple panko coating and fried to perfection. Two avocados will give you about 16 to 20 crunchy, delicious snacks. Make the spicy cilantro-lime mayo for dipping, or use your favorite homemade dip. If you're short on time, use a ready-made dip or condiment—ranch-style dressing, ketchup, and a cream cheese dip are excellent options. 

Flaky panko crumbs give the avocado wedges their satisfying crunchy texture. You only need salt and pepper for the coating, but you can always add some extra flavor with a bit of chili powder, a dash of cayenne pepper, or Creole seasoning. Fry some up for a weekend game-day snack, a special occasion appetizer, or serve them as a side dish to go with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

Ingredients

For the Spicy Cilantro-Lime Mayo:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 dash cayenne pepper

  • 1 dash salt (or to taste)

For the Fried Avocado Strips:

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 dash ground black pepper

  • 2 large eggs, beaten

  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 2 large avocados

Steps to Make It

Prepare the Spicy Cilantro-Lime Mayo

  1. Gather the spicy cilantro-lime mayo ingredients.

    ingredients for cilantro lime mayo dip
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, lime juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper, if using. Taste and add salt, as needed. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

    chili lime mayo dip
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prepare the Fried Avocado

  1. Gather the ingredients for the fried avocado.

    ingredients for fried avocado
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. Slice an avocado in half; remove the pit, peel, and slice each half into 4 or 5 strips. 

    avocado prep on a cutting board
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  3. Set up a breading station with 3 bowls or containers. To the first bowl add the flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and a dash of pepper. Put the beaten eggs in the second bowl and the panko breadcrumbs in the third bowl. 

    breading bowls for fried avocado
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. Dip an avocado strip in the flour and turn to coat all sides, then coat with the beaten egg. Let excess egg drip off and dip the avocado strip in the panko crumbs, pressing gently to coat. Remove the coated avocado strip to a plate and continue with the remaining strips.

    breading the avocado slices
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Add about 1 inch of vegetable oil to a deep sauté pan or Dutch oven and heat it to 350 F. Add 4 to 6 avocado strips to the hot oil and fry for about 2 minutes, or until the coating is golden brown.

    frying panko coated avocado slices
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  6. Remove the fried avocado strips to a paper towel-lined plate or pan, then repeat with the remaining pieces. 

    deep fried avocado wedges draining on paper towels
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  7. Arrange the fried avocado on a small platter or plate with the spicy cilantro-lime mayo.

    fried avocado wedges with chili lime mayo for dipping
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Tips

  • Choose firm avocados for this recipe. They should hold their when sliced, breaded, and fried.
  • Use a neutral flavor vegetable oil, such as canola oil, refined high-heat safflower oil, or grapeseed oil.
  • Since the avocados are firm, the pit might be more difficult to remove. If so, cut the avocado half with the pit in half again, and remove the pit by hand.

What Makes Panko Different From Other Dry Breadcrumbs

Panko originated in Japan—the light, flaky crumbs are made from crustless white bread that has been baked using a special process, then the bread is flaked, dried, and then toasted. Panko crumbs and regular breadcrumbs may be used interchangeably, but if you want that crispy, crunchy texture, use panko.

Recipe Variations

  • To add extra flavor, replace the salt in the flour coating with about 1 teaspoon of seasoning salt or Creole seasoning.
  • For Southwest flavor, add 1 teaspoon of chili powder and a dash of ground cayenne pepper to the flour.
  • Instead of the cilantro-lime mayo, make a ranch-style dip, a simple mustard-mayo dip, or this shortcut garlicky aioli. Alternatively. use your favorite store-bought dip, ketchup, creamy dressing, or aioli.


Helpful Links