I recently received a box full of bliss on my doorstep. So what did the UPS man deliver? No, it wasn’t a new pair of sandals for spring or video game ordered by the boys – it was a case brimming with beautiful California Avocados. Smooth, velvety goodness ready to nourish my body with healthy fats and essential vitamins and nutrients – now THAT is something worth coming home to! I could wax poetic about the health benefits of avocados all day; surely you remember how many avocados I was eating during my “fat-loading” phase for the last marathon!
So, each one my new beautiful avocados were perfectly shaped and without a dent, bruise or brown spot – plus, none of them had those awful stringy things on the inside. By the way, the stringiness found in some avocados near the stem end is a result of a younger tree vigorously putting out fruit. As the tree matures, it typically stops producing fruit with this stressed-out, overabundance of cellulose fibers. Unfortunately, you can’t tell from the outside of avocados which ones are strung out – haha! And, while you CAN eat the stringy fibers, who wants to?
With peak California Avocado season in full swing now through fall (haller-lu-ya) and Cinco de Mayo just days away, what better way to start devouring my stash than with some south-of-the-border inspired avocado recipes.
Cilantro-Lime Guacamole Recipe
Simple, smooth and just so darn good that I have been known to eat the whole bowl at one sitting! A perfect dip for chips or healthier options like carrot, jicama, or zucchini sticks.
- 1 large avocado, peeled and pitted
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- Garnish (optional) : chopped red onion
Using a fork or back of spoon, mash avocado until smooth with just a few small lumps remaining for texture. Add lime juice, cilantro and garlic salt; stir well to combine. Top with red onion, if desired. Serves 4.
Avocado Pineapple Relish Recipe
I originally made this dish as an experimental side for smoked brisket and turkey; obviously I wasn’t in the mood for coleslaw and other normal barbeque sides. We gobbled it all up and then I made it again for fish tacos and tortilla chips!
- 1 medium avocado; pitted, scored and flesh removed
- 2/3 cup diced fresh pineapple
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
- 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon finely minced jalapeno
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
Score avocado in shell as pictured below and remove or peel and dice. Mix all ingredients in non-reactive bowl and gently toss together. Serves 6.
Baja Beef Avocado Bowls Recipe
Made last month as part of a “chopped” style competition at a nutrition event (and the winner, natch!), this vibrant and very easy dinner recipe uses the avocado shell and part of the flesh as a bowl – the scooped out remainder is made into guacamole and dolloped on top! Get the full recipe for Baja Beef Avocado Bowls on my protein for performance post.
So what will I be doing with the rest of my avocados? Come back in a couple days to find out!
Avocados provided by the California Avocado Commission, but all recipes and opinions my own.
I love to live vicariously, please share your favorite way to eat avocados in the comments!
Now that is an awesome gift to have on your doorstep! I love it all!
Thanks Angela — avocados are a way to this mama’s heart!
bringing over chips… STAT!
All you really need is a spoon!
I want to eat alllll that avocado!! (Except the one with beef, haha!)
Erin, idea — put the pineapple avocado salsa in the avocado bowl instead of the beef — keep the black beans, YUM!
I’m going avocado CRAZY right now! This all looks so delicious – great pictures!
Thanks Divya — I am also CRAZY for avocados, having them with dinner again tonight!
All of these look great! I’m very curious about those avocado bowls though…they’d make a great appetizer for a summer bbq/party 🙂
Thanks Kammie! You could do any kind of salad in the avocado bowls — the avocado pineapple salsa would be delish in there!
The food in your photos looks delicious! I often eat avocados with toast and eggs or on a salad.
oh my… LOVE avocado!!!
Hi Jennifer,
We are doing a guacamole roundup on Friday for Guacamole Day and wondered if we could include this delicious recipe and picture for Cilantro Lime Guacamole in our post. There would be a link for the recipe to your post along with your blogs name.
Thanks so much.
That is fine — and thanks for the heads up on guacamole day!
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