Avocado is perfect for topping a turkey sandwich or a burger, but it can also be the main event. Exhibit A: This mouthwatering avocado sandwich.
Ingredients:
4 slices wheat bread
1/4 cup pesto
4 slices mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 avocado, sliced
1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
Spread pesto over bread and layer with mozzarella, spinach, avocado and goat cheese. Top with the second bread slice. Transfer to skillet, and brown each side in olive oil over medium heat. Slice and serve.
Tired of traditional, mayo-drenched chicken salad? That's where this chicken avocado recipe comes in. The avocado adds creaminess and extra flavor, while loading your sandwich up with healthy fats.
Ingredients:
2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1 large avocado
3 tablespoons mayo (or more as needed)
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large bowl, add the chicken, mayo, lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cut the avocado in half, pit and dice into small pieces. Scoop the avocado out into the bowl and stir all of the ingredients together until it has reached your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
See ya later, lettuce. Avocado, antioxidant-rich tomatoes and hydrating cucumbers are the stars of this salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
1-1/2 cups of chopped tomatoes
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 avocado, diced
4 ounces feta cheese, cubed
For the dressing:
2 tablespoons minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
8 twists of black pepper from a pepper mill
Directions:
Combine chopped tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced avocado, minced red onion, minced parsley and feta cubes to a bowl. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar and black pepper in a separate bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently.
The blogger behind this avocado smoothie recipe swears this recipe is the key to healthy-looking skin. And she could be onto something. After all, mango and pineapple are full of skin-enhancing vitamin C, and kale and spinach are nutrient powerhouses.
Ingredients
1/2 cup plain coconut water
2 frozen ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
1 cup chopped pineapple (frozen or fresh)
1 cup chopped mango (frozen or fresh)
2 cups spinach or kale
1/2 avocado, sliced
Optional: 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil
Directions:
Put all of the ingredients in a strong, powerful blender in the order listed. Blend on high for at least 3 minutes, or until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Add more coconut water if it's too thick.
Healthy avocado recipes are at the top of our list for must-try dishes, because as far as we're concerned, the avocado is the Beatles of produce. The buttery fruit is a larger-than-life superstar, timeless and an inevitable crowd pleaser. (And, yes, rumors of a looming avocado shortage were throwing us into a panic -- until we realized we can freeze avocados.)
Avocados are packed with skin-enhancing healthy fats, plus nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, including and vitamins A and C. Plus, eating half an avocado with lunch may help control hunger throughout the day, according to one 2014 study.
But if you're bored with guacamole (nearly impossible, we know), there are a number of other ways to put this green wonder fruit to good use. Here, 14 easy and healthy avocado recipes to try at home.