Avocados are a wonderfully dynamic food. They’re a little bit sweet, a little bit savory, and they’re creamy but can be chunky. They are great on their own, or can add flavor and fiber to your sandwich or burger. Not to mention they have the good kind of fats. Here are 10 unique ways to eat avocados.
Instead of mayo
You’ll be making a few picnic lunches this summer, which means lots of sandwiches, which couldmean lots of fatty mayonnaise. Instead, scoop out an avocado and mash it up until it’s smooth, or toss it in a blender, and smear it onto your bread instead of mayo.
In a martini
If you’re into the savory martini trend with jalapeno martinis and of course the olive martini, then wrap your head around this: a martini with avocado puree. Mixed with a little coconut cream, lime juice and chipotle powder, it’s like a tropical lunch next to a pool in Cancun…in a glass. Here’s the recipe: Laist.com.
Pickled
Since it has a creamy and mild flavor, an avocado takes up the acid flavors of vinegar really well. Plus, once it’s pickled, you can eat it with just about anything you’d stick in a bloody mary including cheese cubes and bacon slices. Find the recipe here.
Have you ever tried a warm avocado? It will be your new favorite treat. At your next summer barbecue, save a few avocados from your guacamole batch, slice them in half, remove the pits and place them face down on the grill for just around 30 seconds. Sprinkle them with lime juice and pepper and serve them as a side dish.
In a salad dressing
Using avocado as the base for a salad dressing gives you the creamy texture you want from ranch or thousand island, but with much less oil and sugar. Mash up half an avocado until smooth, mix in lime juice, two tablespoons of olive oil and some salt and pepper for a creamy, healthy dressing.
Fried
Battered and fried avocados have a great crunch on the outside, and that creamy goodness on the inside. We love the recipe below that uses light and flaky panko crumbs, and dips the finished avocados into a delicious, creamy chipotle sauce.
Looking for a new, easy power breakfast? A baked egg in an avocado hollow delivers tons of protein, fiber and healthy fats and takes just about 15 minutes to bake in the oven. Put a dollop of sour cream on top, sprinkle on some cayenne pepper, and you’ll be in heaven.
If you’re cranky in the mornings, you’ll perk up at the sight of these pretty green pancakes! It’s not a Dr. Seuss recipe. It’s avocado pancakes. They make the usual white-flour pancakes far more nutritious, and taste great with savory toppings such as bacon bits and cheese.
If you’re a fan of creamy pies such as banana or key lime, then add avocado pie to your roster of the sweet treat. Mixed with condensed milk, cream cheese and lime juice, the avocado pie filling is super creamy and refreshing.
Avocado is a great alternative to yogurt or ice cream when you’re craving a creamy smoothie. Blended with bananas, it’s light, nutritious and has a great tropical flavor.