Have a Go With Avocado!
Avocados are a great way to add a little something extra to a dish whilst packing a big punch in health benefits. But did you know there is more to the avocado than being a simple yet delicious toast topper or salad side?
This creamy, vitamin-packed fruit makes the perfect base for many healthy recipes you might have never considered before. Whilst typically a tasty addition to a salad, avocados also work well in sweeter dishes due to their smooth consistency and neutral taste.
For those with stricter diets, avocados make a great base for vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free snacks, but they also make a great accompaniment to chicken paninis and homemade beef burgers.
Take a look at these delicious dairy-free recipes from the NZ Avocado Association, for simple wholefood drinks and snacks that require no cooking!!
AVOCADO BLISS BALLS
Perfect for school lunches, morning or afternoon snacks, these avocado bliss balls will go down a treat with kids. As well as being delicious and healthy, these bliss balls are diabetic-friendly, gluten and dairy-free making them perfect for everyone to enjoy. This recipe makes 50 small balls so half the recipe if you would like less, or the bliss balls will keep for a week in the fridge.
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
12 Medjool dates
1 cup of almonds (toasted)
1 cup of desiccated coconut
2 lemons
1 cup coconut thread (toasted)
1 cup pitted prunes
Method:
Toast almonds and pulse to meal consistency.
Grate the rind of two lemons.
Mash the ripe avocado and add one teaspoon of lemon juice together until smooth.
Pulse the dates, prunes and lemon rind together.
Add the mixtures together and roll into small balls.
Then coat each ball with toasted coconut threads and enjoy!
AVOCADO SMOOTHIE
Photo by Babiche Martens.
Recipe created by Sachie Nomura (Sachie’s Kitchen)
This smoothie is easy to create and is a healthy complement to breakfast – if you don’t have time in the morning, you can make it the night before, store it in the fridge and add it to your toasted cereal!
Makes: 4 glasses | Prep time: 3 minutes
Ingredients
1 avocado, peeled and pit removed
1 ripe banana
3 green kiwifruit, peeled
1 cup of almond milk/soy milk/apple juice/mango juice
1 Tbsp lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
1 cup of ice cubes
Method:
Mix all of the ingredients together in the blender and serve in a glass.
To see more delicious avocado-based recipes, visit NZ Avocado.