Avocado: More than Guacamole and Toast

     Avocado has become a huge craze in the culinary world. You can find it almost everywhere. But aside from being the main ingredient in guacamole, mostly it's found on toast. Avocado toast has hit the world and it does not seem to be going away. Don't get me wrong, there are so many good things about this trend, it's healthy, tasty, and so much more. However, avocado is so good in so many other dishes, and I thought I might share some of them with you.

     But first, a little bit about the health benefits of this awesome little fruit. Avocado is one of the most nutrient dense foods I know of. It's loaded with calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium (more than a banana), copper, phosphorous, and zinc. It's a great source of vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K. Avocado also contains niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin. And a single serving of this awesome fruit can contain over 40% of the recommended daily value of fiber. Though it contains a LOT of fat (about 22.5 grams) over two-thirds of this fat is monounsaturated and actually good for you. Oh and yes, it is a fruit, but it's super low in fructose.

     All of the nutrients help to make avocados great for your health. Several studies have shown that avocado helps keep your heart healthy, prevents age related vision loss, improves digestion and nutrient absorption, protects against sun damage to your skin and hair, balances blood glucose levels, and so much more. How can you go wrong with avocado? That's why I felt I should share these recipes today. Just in case you are wondering, yes, all of these recipes are gluten free. Most are also vegan friendly.

Avocado and Egg Dishes:

I love having avocado for breakfast, and these recipes work so well for that. They're also great for a light lunch. These would be great with smoked salmon or bacon as well, if you like that sort of thing.

Southwest Avocado Frittata

2 teaspoons Butter or Olive Oil

½ of a medium Onion, thinly sliced

1 Avocado, halved and sliced

1 Tomato, halved and sliced

¼ cup Black Beans

½ cup Corn

8 Eggs

½ cup Heavy Cream (or full fat Coconut Milk)

2 tablespoons fresh Cilantro, roughly chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

*optional 1 small Jalapeno, seeded and sliced

*optional ¼ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or Pepper Jack for some added heat)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375. In a large, oven proof skillet (8-10 inches), on medium heat, use 2 teaspoons of butter (or oil) to sautee the onion (and jalapeno) until the onion is transparent. Remove from heat. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream (or coconut milk), salt, pepper, and cilantro. Whisk until eggs are well incorporated. Pour the mixture into the skillet. Add in remaining ingredients. I prefer to start with the black beans and corn, then layer tomatoes and avocado on top. *Optional, top with cheddar cheese. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake 25 minutes, or until the frittata begins to brown and the eggs are cooked. Remove from the oven, sit 5 min to allow frittata to set. Slice and serve warm!

Egg Stuffed Avocado

2 small Eggs

1 Avocado, sliced and pitted

Salt and Pepper to taste

*optional Shredded Cheese and herbs of your choice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425. Scoop out a little of the avocado, to make the hole a little bigger so you can accommodate the egg. Arrange avocado halves in a cooking dish, careful to not let them tip over. Crack an egg into each half of the avocado. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add cheese and herbs if desired (I like to put a little garlic powder and fresh Parmesan on mine, but feta and chive is a great option as well). Place into oven and bake for 15 minutes (or longer if you don't like runny yolk). Serve warm!

Avocado and Pasta:

These recipes make a great lunch or light dinner. If you like chicken or shrimp, feel free to add it into these recipes. These recipes also work really well with Zucchini or Spaghetti Squash instead of pasta.

Creamy Avocado Pesto

1 ripe Avocado, pitted and diced

1 cup fresh Basil leaves

1/3 cup Pine Nuts (or Cashews)

3 Garlic Cloves, smashed

Juice of 1 Lemon

about ¼ cup Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

*optional ¼ cup grated Parmesan Cheese or Nutritional Yeast

1 12oz-16oz box of pasta of your choice (I like Bowties or Angel Hair)

*optional- fresh Spinach, Mushrooms (sliced), or Cherry Tomatoes (halved)

Instructions:

Follow instructions on box of pasta and set aside. In a food processor, combine avocado, basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Process into a thick paste. Slowly add in olive oil until you have reached your desired, creamy, consistency. Mix in parmesan cheese until incorporated. Toss over pasta and fresh vegetables. The heat from the freshly cooked pasta will be enough to warm the sauce perfectly. Serve warm!

Pasta with Garlic Lemon Sauce

For the Sauce:

6 Garlic Cloves

2 ¼ cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 cup Lemon Juice (about 4 lemons)

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

¼ tablespoon Nutritional Yeast (or grated Parmesan Cheese)

Salt and Pepper to taste

*optional ¼ cup Herbs of your choice (oregano, thyme, basil, and marjoram are all good choices)

For the Dish:

1 12oz-16oz box of Pasta of your choice (I like Rotini or Penne for this)

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

8-10 fresh Asparagus Spears, cut into 1-2 inch segments

½ medium Onion, sliced

1 Avocado, pitted and cubed

Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

For the sauce:

Preheat the oven to 300. In a small oven proof container, combine garlic cloves and ¼ cup of olive oil. Cover and cook in the oven for about 50 minutes, or until the garlic is a pale golden color and tender. This removes the pungency of the garlic and brings out the sweetness. Cool to room temperature. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and combine with remaining olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, yeast, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth. (Lasts about 2 weeks in the refrigerator)

For the dish:

Follow the instructions on the box of pasta and set aside. Using olive oil, sautee asparagus and onions over medium-high heat until asparagus is tender and onions are transparent. Remove from heat and toss with pasta, avocado, salt, pepper, and sauce. Serve warm!

Avocado Salads:

I love adding avocado to my salads, but in these salads, avocado is the main event! They'd also be great with chicken or tuna added.

Creamy Southwest Avocado Salad

2 Avocados, pitted and cubed

1 small Sweet Onion, diced

1 small Jalapeno, seeded and diced (or bell pepper if you don't want the heat)

1 large Tomato, diced

¼ cup Corn (grill it first to add some awesome flavor)

¼ cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped

¼ cup Plain Greek Yogurt (or vegan sour cream)

Salt and Pepper to taste

*optional-baby or micro greens

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix gently, but well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (it's super tasty if left overnight). Enjoy!

Avocado Chickpea Salad

2 Avocados, pitted and cubed

2 medium Cucumbers, halved and sliced

1 large Tomato, diced

1 15 oz can Chickpeas (or try Fava Beans for a nice twist)

Juice of 1 Lemon

¼ cup Olive Oil

2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, finely chopped

1 Garlic Clove, minced

Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a small mixing bowl, combine lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk well. Pour over all other ingredients in large bowl. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (it's really tasty if left over night). Enjoy!

Avocado Dips and Spreads:

Everyone knows about guacamole, so I decided to introduce you to a few other ways to use avocado in dips and spreads. The first recipe is based on a salad dressing that I love, but it's super thick so you can use it as a dip for fresh veggies or chips.

Green Goddess Dip

1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard

1 clove Garlic, minced

Juice of ½ a Lemon

¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 super ripe Avocados, pitted (you should be able to mush them with a spoon)

1 cup fresh Parsley Leaves

1 Green Onion stalk

1 tablespoon fresh Tarragon leaves

2 teaspoons White Miso Paste (make sure you have a gluten free variety)

¾ cup Tahini

Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a food processor, blend dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Add in the avocados, parsley, onion, tarragon, miso, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a large bowl and add in the Tahini. Mix well.

*If you want to turn this into a salad dressing, add ½ cup (or more) olive oil.

Avocado Hummus

1 Avocado, pitted and diced

1 15 oz can Chickpeas, reserve the liquid

¼ cup Tahini

1-2 Garlic Cloves, minced

Juice of ½ a Lemon

2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

½ tablespoon ground Cumin

Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth, adding in chickpea liquid if needed to achieve the right consistency. Enjoy!

Avocado Sweets:

Avocado for dessert? It's surprisingly tasty when combined with the right ingredients.

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

2 super ripe Avocados, pitted

½ cup Chocolate Chips or Cocoa Powder (or try Carob)

¼ cup – ½ cup Milk (or Full Fat Coconut Milk)

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Pinch of Salt

2-6 teaspoons Honey or Maple Syrup

Instructions:

If using chocolate chips, melt them (on a double boiler) before begining. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Use less milk for a thicker mousse, or more milk for a creamier mousse.

Avocado Banana Cupcakes

(with 2 Frosting Options)

For the Cupcakes:

2 tablespoons Milled Flaxseed

5 tablespoons Water

1 ½ cups Gluten Free Flour (my favorite is by Namaste)

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 ½ cups Mashed Bananas (about 4 bananas)

½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

¾ cup Sugar

¼ teaspoon Salt

½ teaspoon Baking Soda

¼ cup Mashed Avocado

¼ cup Coconut Oil, melted

*optional Sprinkle Crushed Walnuts on top of frosting

Chocolate Avocado Frosting:

2 super ripe Avocados, pitted

½ cup Cocoa Powder (try Carob powder for a vegan option)

6-8 tablespoons Maple Syrup (or Honey)

¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/8 teaspoon Salt

Avocado “Buttercream” Frosting:

2 super ripe Avocados, pitted

Juice of ½ a Lemon

Pinch of Salt

4-5 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted

Instructions:

For the Cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350. In a small bowl, combine flaxseed and water. Mix well and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of the mixture. In well, combine the flaxseed mixture, avocados, coconut oil, mashed bananas, and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture, be careful not to overmix. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake in oven for 25-30 min, or until a toothpick, inserted in the center, comes out clean. Remove from pan and allow to cool completely before frosting.

For the Chocolate Frosting:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Blend until completely smooth. Chill for 10 minutes before frosting

For the “Buttercream” Frosting:

Combine the lemon juice and avocado in a food processor. Process until completely smooth. Slowly add in powdered sugar until you have reached the desired consistency. Chill for 10 minutes before frosting.

Tips for frosting:

These frostings are not traditional cupcake frostings. They don't pipe well and are more like a thick ganache. If you want to pipe your frosting, instead of 2 avocados, use 1 and add 8 tablespoons of shortening or unsalted butter.

Bonus tip! If you are looking for a great dessert for your St. Patrick's Day dinner, the “buttercream” frosting is much healthier than a traditional frosting, and it's GREEN!

     Have fun, play around, make more avocado recipes, and let me know what you think below!