Did you know avocados are excellent addition to an effective weight loss diet? Due to their high fiber and healthy fat content, studies have shown that adding avocados to meals makes people more satisfied and reduces the desire to eat for hours (versus a similar meal without avocados). Additionally, avocados are so jam-packed with essential nutrients including antioxidants, vitamins C, E, K, B-6, magnesium, potassium, and iron, they’re one of the top superfoods you can eat!
Granted, avocados are a great addition to a salad or sandwich, and guacamole is a given, but some of my favorite dishes not only call for avocado they highlight it! Here are 5 amazing recipes that will have you seeing avocado in a whole new light.
Avocado Bacon and Eggs
Bacon and eggs never tasted so good. This dish is pumped with healthy fats, protein, loaded with flavor, and its gluten free. Only taking about 25 minutes from start to finish, this is a great quick breakfast option.
Ingredients:
- 1 piece cooked bacon
- 1 medium avocado
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbsp. cheese
- 1 pinch of salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit.
- Scoop out some of the avocado so that the egg will fit inside.
- Place the avocado inside a muffin pan face up to hold its shape while cooking.
- Crack one egg inside each half of the avocado.
- Top each avocado half with cheese, cooked bacon and pinch of salt.
- Cook for about 15 minutes.
SERVINGS: 2 NUTRIENTS PER SERVING: Calories: 238, Fat: 12.5g, Protein: 11g, Carbs: 13g (10 grams of fiber)
Avocado Fries
If you haven’t fried an avocado yet, you don’t know what you are missing. This recipe is delicious, kid friendly and vegetarian.
Ingredients:
- 2 large avocados
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
Directions:
- Peel the avocados and remove the pit.
- Cut them into ½ slices.
- Mix together the flour, chili powder and 1 ½ teaspoons salt in a small bowl.
- Mix the eggs in a separate bowl and lay out the bread crumbs on plate.
- Dip the avocado slices in the flour mix then into the eggs and roll in the panko crumbs. Repeat with each piece.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add in a few avocado slices. Cook for 3 minutes each side until they brown.
- Let the cooked avocado slices cool on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Repeat with all the slices.
- Sprinkle the remainder of the salt over the fries and serve hot.
SERVINGS: 4 NUTRIENTS PER SERVING: Calories: 385, Fat: 25g, Protein: 7g, Carbs: 21g (7 grams of fiber)
Avocado Mac & Cheese
If you love Mac & Cheese, then this one’s for you. This twist on a traditional southern recipe is just what you needed to spice up your dinner.
Ingredients:
- 2 large avocados
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp. lime juice
- 3/4 lb. whole wheat elbow macaroni
- 3 tbsp. flour
- 2 pinches of salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1 ½ cups low fat milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded white cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Cook the pasta in a large pot.
- Combine the avocados, cilantro, garlic and lime juice in a food processor and blend well.
- Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender and blend again until you have a thick creamy consistency.
- Set the avocado sauce aside.
- In a large sauce pan melt butter over medium heat.
- Mix the flour into the butter and heat for about 1 minute.
- Add the milk a little at a time into the flour mixture and stir until smooth. Bring to a simmer and stir until it has thickened. About 7 minutes.
- Add the avocado sauce into the flour mixture and heat for about 3 minutes, or until sauce has thickened.
- Remove the mixture from the heat, add in the white cheddar cheese, salt and pepper.
- Add the past to the sauce and stir well.
- Top with cilantro and serve hot.
SERVINGS: 6 NUTRIENTS PER SERVING: Calories: 619, Fat: 26g, Protein: 25g, Carbs: 54g (8 grams of fiber)
Avocado Rice
Here’s another side dish that will add more flavor to your normal dinner. This recipe is super easy to make and works best a day after the rice has been cooked. Use it to spice up leftovers and make them new.
Ingredients:
- 2 avocados
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 1 small garlic clove
- 2 tbsp. lime juice
- 1 pinch of salt and pepper
- 4 tsp. ground cumin
- 4 cups cooked brown rice
Directions:
- Mash avocados in mixing bowl.
- Add the lime juice, cilantro, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir well.
- Stir in warm cooked rice, adding a little at a time.
- Serve warm.
SERVINGS: 4 NUTRIENTS PER SERVING: Calories: 343, Fat: 6g, Protein: 6g, Carbs: 52g (8 grams of fiber)
Avocado Brownies
There’s always room for desert, especially when the desert is tasty and has avocados in it. You will never think of a brownie the same after you try this recipe.
Ingredients for the brownies:
- 3 medium sized avocados
- 2 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp. coconut oil
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3 eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 7 tbsp. coconut flour
Ingredients for the frosting
- 1 medium sized avocado
- 3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
Directions for brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a 9X13 pan with parchment paper, let it hang over the sides a bit.
- Put the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a glass bowl, place it over a pot of shallow simmering water to melt without touching the water.
- Stir the chocolate until melted and smooth, remove from heat and set aside.
- Peel and pit the avocado and place into the food processor and blend until smooth. You will need it to make 1 cup of avocado puree.
- Add the avocado puree, honey and vanilla extract into the chocolate mixture once its cooled.
- Add the eggs one at a time into the chocolate mixture, making sure the egg is mixed in well before the other is added.
- Add in the coconut flour and cocoa powder to the mixture until it becomes a smooth batter.
- Pour the batter into the 9X13 pan and spread evenly to fill the corners.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until the top is firm.
- Remove from the over to cool.
Directions for frosting:
- Peel and pit the avocado, and place into a food processor with the unsweetened cocoa powder and maple syrup.
- Blend well scraping down the sides if needed, blend until smooth
- Spread the frosting over the brownies once they have completely cooled down.
SERVINGS: 24 NUTRIENTS PER SERVING: Calories: 153, Fat: 7g, Protein: 8g, Carbs: 19 (3.5 grams of fiber)
I hope you enjoy these new recipes, and adding more avocado into your life. Give them a try and let me know what you think!
Keeping it real,