Holy guacamole! How delicious are avocados? I would eat them everyday if I could. These nutrient dense fruits add creaminess to everything. They’re great in smoothies, dips, dressings, salads, spreads, you name it! Unfortunately, avocados have a tendency to go ripe very quickly. You can store them in the fridge for a couple of days to slow this process. However, avocados will start to lose their rich flavour if refrigerated for more than 24 hours. To avoid this problem, try making a big batch of guacamole instead.

Benefits:

Avocados are high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that protects the nervous system, brain, and heart. An avocado-rich diet has been shown to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol while improving ‘good’ cholesterol. Avocado’s potassium content promotes a healthy heart too. Potassium helps to lower blood pressure and defend against other circulatory conditions. Avocados are also a complete protein. This means they contain all the essential amino acids that must be obtained from our diet since our bodies aren’t able to manufacture them. Lastly, the fats in avocados help to maximize the absorption and assimilation of other nutrients found in the foods it’s consumed with. For example, the body will utilize more lycopene from tomatoes if eaten with avocado compared to being eaten alone.

Guacamole Ingredients:

5 ripe avocados

zest & juice of 1 lime

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon cumin

pinch of cayenne

1/2 red onion, finely diced

1/4 cup cilantro, stemmed & chopped

sea salt & pepper to taste

1 tomato, seeds & pulp removed, chopped

Directions:

Cut each avocado in half, carefully remove the seed, and scoop out avocado flesh into a large bowl with a spoon. Add lime zest and juice, garlic, cumin, and cayenne. Mash with a fork to desired consistency. Mix in red onion, tomato, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Add chopped tomato just before serving. Garnish with extra cilantro.

Recipe originally published on www.lulora.com