Avocados are debatably the trendiest fruit around right now—and for good reason. Not only are they delicious, they’re filled with more than 20 essential nutrients, including “good” fats and fiber to keep you full long after you’ve eaten. If you love avocados but are looking for something a different than guacamole, try one of these ideas.
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1. Grilled avocado
When you’re grilling this summer, consider throwing on some avocados to accompany your meal. Take a not-quite-ripe avocado and cut it in half, removing and discarding the pit. An overly-ripe avocado will turn to mush when grilled.
Brush with olive oil and lime juice. For a little spiciness, sprinkle with chili powder or cumin. Grill with the inside down over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. When you remove them from the grill, they’ll have beautiful char marks. Stuff the avocados with pico de gallo and serve as a fresh, unique side or appetizer with tortilla chips.
2. Avocado toast
What better way to start your day than with an avocado? For an easy, ultra-filling breakfast, just mash half a ripe avocado with a little salt and lime juice and pile it onto whole wheat toast. Sprinkle with black pepper. Get creative with additional toppings.
Sliced tomato adds antioxidants and vitamins. A hard-boiled egg packs in protein. This simple, delicious breakfast, paired with a side of yogurt or fresh fruit, is sure to keep you full until lunch.
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3. Mayonnaise substitute
Avocados can even be made into a nutritious vegan mayonnaise. Simply puree 1 avocado, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, and 1/2 tsp. sea salt.
Once the mixture is smooth, stir in 1/3 cup of olive oil. This mayo substitute can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Spread it on a turkey sandwich or use it as a dip for French fries–however, you like to eat regular mayonnaise.
4. Avocado breakfast scramble
The ways to serve avocado at breakfast are seemingly endless. If you enjoy eating a plate of eggs on Saturday morning, try this avocado breakfast scramble. Sauté a quarter of a yellow onion in olive oil until translucent.
Whisk 2-3 eggs in a bowl and add them to the hot pan with the onion. Add shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomato, black beans, and chopped avocado when the eggs are nearly done. Top with salsa or ketchup. Serve with whole wheat toast and orange juice for an easy, satisfying weekend breakfast.
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5. Avocado sandwich spreads
For a healthy alternative to your usual lunchmeat, try using avocado instead of mayonnaise in your favorite sandwich spread.
For an avocado and chickpea sandwich, mash about 1 cup chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, with half an avocado. Mix in salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and a little bit of mayonnaise, to taste. This is an extremely filling alternative to your typical chicken salad sandwich, and it’s pleasing to both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Another option is avocado-egg salad.
Peel and chop 4 hard-boiled eggs. In a bowl, mix the eggs with a mashed ripe avocado, a splash of vinegar, a dash of salt and pepper, and a few tablespoons of mayonnaise, to taste. Serve on whole-wheat bread or a wrap with a smear of Dijon mustard for an interesting and delicious take on egg salad. You can also replace some of the mayo in tuna salad with mashed avocado, reducing calories and changing up the flavor.
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6. Avocado deviled eggs
Avocado goes extremely well with eggs, whether it’s in a breakfast scramble or an egg sandwich. Another way to take advantage of this awesome duo is with avocado deviled eggs.
For a great summer side to take to a picnic or enjoy at home, you’ll need 6 hardboiled eggs, 2 avocados, 3-4 tsp. lime juice, and salt, pepper, and cilantro, to taste. Cut the eggs in half and remove the yolks to a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and smash with a fork. Fill the egg halves with the mixture. Chill and serve.
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7. Avocado smoothie
Avocado can be added to nearly any smoothie recipe to impart the same thick, creamy texture of a frozen banana, with the added benefit of heart-healthy fat and less sugar.
Try this recipe for an avocado smoothie, or just incorporate the fruit into your favorite recipe. Add the following ingredients to a blender: 1 ripe avocado, 1 cup milk of preference (almond, cow’s, etc.), 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, a squeeze of honey or sweetener of choice, to taste, and a few ice cubes. Blend until smooth, and enjoy as a satisfying anytime snack.
8. Avocado salsa
Switch up the traditional guacamole-and-chips on Mexican night and try avocado salsa instead. For a single serving, mix 1/3 cup cubed avocado, 1/3 cup pineapple, and 1/3 cup black beans. Experiment with adding in additional flavors like cilantro and lime. You can also try using strawberries or mangoes instead of the pineapple and corn instead of the beans. Increase the recipe according to however many servings you want to make.
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9. Avocado pie
You can’t get much more unique than avocado for dessert. Wow your dinner guests with a cheerful, green avocado pie. To make the pie, you’ll need a pre-made graham cracker crust, 2 medium-size ripe avocados, 1 8-oz.
package of softened cream cheese, 14-oz. sweetened condensed milk, 2 1/2 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice, salt, and whipped cream (for garnish, optional). First, cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Scoop out the flesh and chop it into pieces.
In a medium bowl, beat the avocado and cream cheese with a mixer until it is smooth. Add the sweetened condensed milk, lime and lemon juices, and salt; beat until fluffy. Transfer the filling to the crust with a spatula, scraping the sides of the bowl. To keep the top of the pie from turning brown, cover it with plastic wrap physically touching the surface of the pie. Chill for four hours and serve immediately, spreading with whipped cream if desired.
Photo by Tavallai
10. Avocado fries
Avocados can be prepared as a crispy side dish or appetizer when breaded, baked and dipped in sauce.
For four servings of avocado fries, you’ll need 4 avocados, 1/2 cup flour, 3 eggs, 1 1/4 cups breadcrumbs, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. chili powder or red pepper flakes, and 1 tsp. salt.
Remove the pits and slice the avocados. Coat them in flour. This can be done by putting the flour and avocado in a gallon freezer bag and shaking or by tossing together in a bowl. Combine eggs and 2 Tbsp. water in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs and seasonings.
Put avocado slices in the egg/water mixture, then transfer them to the bowl of dry ingredients to coat. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes until crispy. Serve with dipping sauce of your choice. One idea is a chipotle-ranch sauce. Combine 1/2 cup bottled ranch dressing with 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce and lime juice to taste.