I love avocados. I mean-I could slather them on just about anything! Some may be guac purists, others love their guac with extra chunk and flavors. I love the extras! What’s better than guac and some fresh veggies from the garden?! Bring it on! I’ll add in fresh herbs like chives (garlic or traditional) or scallions, cilantro, and if in-season, some garlic scapes. Garlic scapes look like long scallions, and are the tops of the garlic bulb. They’re harvested in the springtime, and are a perfect addition to any dish you desire a mild garlic flavor in. They’re expensive, but if you get lucky in your CSA share or at the farmer’s market-add them in! Garlic chives are a nice thing to grow as well, and have a very similar taste and texture. They’re perennial, meaning they come back every year, and are VERY prolific (in fact, you need to prevent them form flowering, or you’ll have garlic chives EVERYWHERE!).
Guacamole is sooooo easy to make. There is absolutely no reason to buy that prepared, brownish colored, pre-packaged stuff that has no flavor! You can make this in a flash and be the party favorite! Just be sure to save yourself some, because that bowl is going to be gone is a flash!!
Ingredients:
- 4 avocados (alternative to decrease fat: swap out 2 avocados with 1 can of mashed cannellini beans)
- 1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste) and pepper to taste
- 2 dashes of chipotle powder, a little less than 1/8 tsp
- juice of 1 1/2 limes, about 3 tbsp
- Extras if desired: 1/4 cup of scallions, 1/2 cup of tomato, few tbsp fresh cilantro (we didn’t add any this time, but have in the past), 1/4 cup freshly minced garlic scapes or chives if you have them!
Instructions:
- Slice avocados and squeeze into bowl (no need to scoop). Mash avocados.
- Mix in salt, pepper, lime juice, and cayenne to taste
- Add scallions, garlic scapes, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro if using
- Refrigerate with a pit (this and the lime juice prevent oxidation of the avocado-the browning) and serve with fresh cut veggies and chips
Nutritional Benefits:
- Avocado: healthy unsaturated fats, high in oelic acids which helps in our ability to absorb fat-soluble nutrients, lowering bad cholesterol and improving heart health, high in carotenoids (you know those veggies you associate with orange and red foods) which are great for reducing inflammation in diseases like arthritis. If cutting fats, you can swap out 2 avocados with 1 can white beans to lower fat amounts.
- Anti-inflammatory
- Good source of fiber; helps to lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar, more if adding additional tomatoes and scallions
- High in folate; great for developing brains
- Low glycemic food-great for diabetics (eat with veggies, not chips)
- High in antioxidants; great at helping to prevent many forms of cancer, 63% Vitamin A, 11% of Vitamin C
- Potassium: 262 mg, great for regulating nervous, kidney, and heart function
- 4 avocados (alternative to decrease fat: swap out 2 avocados with 1 can of mashed cannellini beans)
- ¼ tsp salt (or more to taste) and pepper to taste
- ⅛ tsp or a few dashes of cayenne
- Juice of 1½ limes, or 2 if you're using 4 avocados
- Extras if desired: ¼ cup of scallions, ½ cup of tomato, fresh cilantro (we didn't add any this time, but have in the past), ¼ cup freshly minced garlic scapes or chives if you have them!
- Mash avocados
- Mix in salt, pepper, lime juice, and cayenne to taste
- Add scallions or garlic scapes, tomatoes, & fresh cilantro if desired.
- Refrigerate with a pit (this and the lime juice prevent oxidation of the avocado-the browning)
