Avocados aren’t just a pretty, Instagrammable food. (Avocado toast, anyone?) They’re also super versatile and easy to prepare. And of course, avocados are really, really nutritious, boasting more than 20 vitamins and minerals. A diet that includes avocados may help reduce cholesterol (thanks to its monounsaturated fat), aid eye health (because of the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin), boost calcium absorption (lots of vitamin K) and may reduce cancer risk and help support pregnancy (folate).
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To help you begin enjoying these benefits and more, we’ve rounded up 10 must-try recipes that are not only easy to prep, but use minimal ingredients. Enjoy!
1. Avocado Pasta
This 20-minute recipe makes homemade pasta sauce look easy. Just take a pitted and peeled avocado and blend it with olive oil, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Then add it to cooked pasta and sprinkle some fresh parmesan on top. How simple is that?! Get the recipe.
2. Avocado Chicken Salad
Looking to cut back on unhealthy fats? This lunch staple is made with an avocado dressing instead of mayo. Just whip it with diced onion, lime juice and dried basil. You can use it with leftover chicken or even tuna, eating it on its own, as a cracker spread or in a delicious sandwich to go. Yum! Get the recipe.
3. Baked Avocado Fries
Crunchy meets creamy in this better-for-you recipe. Baked instead of fried, you replace starchy potatoes with yummy, creamy avocados. All you have to do is cut avocado into long slices, roll them in flour, dip them in an egg wash and coat them in panko crumbs. A quick high-heat bake will give them that texture you’re craving. Get the recipe.
4. Chicken Avocado Burritos
Burritos can be an excellent last-minute dinner option with the right, healthy ingredients, especially if you’ve got leftover chicken lying around. Simply sautée the chicken with some mustard, and mix in cheese, cilantro and diced avocados. Now add this filling to a tortilla, wrap, and bake for less than five minutes. Get the recipe.
5. Avocado Romaine Salad
Avocado and romaine lettuce are the perfect salad combo because of the mix of textures the give to the dish. The genius of this recipe is its simplicity, especially with its straightforward salad dressing: 2 parts extra virgin olive oil to 1 part vinegar, a few diced shallots, some creamy Dijon mustard, garlic clove and an anchovy. So gourmand, yet a snap to make. Get the recipe.
6. Avocado Sorbet
Avocado ice cream doesn’t exactly seem like an easy recipe, but it’s surprisingly simple to make. You just mix a bit of sugar, water, a few limes and four avocados and put them into your ice cream maker. A cool treat that your family would never expect. Get the recipe.
7. Grilled Avocado
Make this a side dish for barbecued meat or make it the star of your dinner plate. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit, spritz with oil, season with salt and grill on the barbecue. When ready, top with salsa. Get the recipe.
8. Fancy Up Your Avocado Toast
Looking to up your avocado toast game? This recipe calls for chopped smoked almonds and a drizzle of olive oil. Get the recipe.
9. Avocado Chocolate Mousse
Whip up this for your dinner guests and they’ll be amazed. You won’t taste the avocado in this recipe, which works as a creamy base for the mousse. It takes just a few minutes to make: whip avocados, agave nectar, cacao powder, almond milk, almond extract and chia powder. Get the recipe.
10. Avocado Deviled Eggs
Add some colour to deviled eggs by swapping out the mayo for avocado. The pretty green hue will not only be a surprise treat, it’s also healthier, too. All you need are hard-boiled eggs, avocado, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt and pepper, and paprika. Voila! A gorgeous amuse-bouche. Get the recipe.