Make these vegetarian stuffed avocados as a delicious meal idea! Whether you’re looking for a savory breakfast alternative or simply want a healthy lunch or side dish for dinner, this quick and easy recipe is a great way to use up extra avocados you may have on hand.
Vegetarian Stuffed Avocados
These vegetarian stuffed avocados make a quick and easy meal. Try this easy recipe as a healthy dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner! With just 14 grams of net carbs, this dish is perfect for those watching their carb intake. While the fats from the avocado help to keep you feeling full and regulate blood sugar levels.
This recipe for stuffed avocados is so easy! Made without the inclusion of meat, this dish contains vegan mayonnaise so it’s suitable for a fully plant based diet as well. Not only that, but there’s no need to use the oven to create this tasty meal or snack. This no bake recipe means you don’t have to heat up the oven on those hot summer days.
Made in a similar manner as chicken or tuna salad, this vegetarian summer recipe can be adapted as desired. So, no matter what your dietary restrictions are, you can enjoy this avocado recipe anytime this amazing fruit is in season. This low carb recipe is ideal if you’re on a less strict keto diet.
What are Avocados?
Avocados are a fruit. More specifically, however, they are actually berries as they fit all the botanical criteria for this designation. They consist of a fleshy pulp with a large seed inside that’s surrounded by a green exocarp, or skin. Unlike most fruits, or more specifically berries, avocados are savory rather than sweet.
Health Benefits of Stuffed Avocados
Avocados have a number of amazing nutritional benefits that promote health and wellness. If you’re trying to eat healthier and cleaner, avocados make a great addition to your diet!
Following are some of the nutritional and health benefits you’ll enjoy when you consume stuffed avocados:
- Avocados are a wonderful source of healthy fats. Over 75% of the fats found in avocados are unsaturated, therefore they make an excellent substitute for foods that are high in saturated fats or trans fats.
- These fats found in this stuffed avocado recipe not only help you feel full longer, but they also slow down how quickly carbohydrates are broken down and process. This in turn can help to regulate blood sugar.
- This nutritious berry contains no sodium or cholesterol making them a healthy food choice for everyone.
- Avocados contain five essential nutrients that promote heathy eating. These nutrients are fiber, folate, vitamin K, pantothenic acid, and copper. In addition, this fruit also contains nearly twenty more vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients our body needs to flourish.
- Unlike other fruits, a half of one avocado contains less than 1 gram of sugar.
- Avocados contain a natural plant sterol called beta sitosterol. This compound helps promote healthy cholesterol levels which can have a positive impact on heart health.
- Just half an avocado contains around 18% of your daily intake of vitamin K, a necessary nutrient for bone health.
- The high fiber found in these vegetarian stuffed avocados can improve digestion and help prevent constipation.
- Avocados are rich in folate which not only helps fetal development, but may also reduce the risk of depression.
How Do You Ripen Avocados?
Avocados only ripen after they are picked. While it’s easy to find ripe avocados at the grocery store when they’re in season, occasionally you end up with fruit that’s not quite there yet. If you’re craving a tasty avocado recipe right away, it is possible to ripen avocados more quickly.
In order to hasten the ripening process, simply place the unripe avocados in a brown paper bag along with an apple or a banana. The avocados should ripen within 2 to 3 days afterwards.
Stuffed Avocado Ideas
There are so many options when it comes to stuffing avocados. While I provide a basic recipe for stuffed avocados below, I also wanted to share some other ideas as to what you can put inside an avocado to create a delicious meal.
- To add extra protein to these stuffed avocados, add a half cup of cooked quinoa to the recipe.
- Include fresh herbs to the avocado stuffing to add a spark of flavor. Great options include basil, oregano, cilantro and dill.
- Spice up this recipe by mixing in a jalapeño that’s been deseeded and diced.
- Swap out the vegan mayo for regular mayonnaise if you don’t need plant based condiments. Or try using hummus or garlic aioli in its place.
- Try adding grilled shrimp or canned tuna for another version of vegetarian stuffed avocados.
- Swap out the celery sticks with a diced bell pepper of your choice.
- Add cherry tomatoes to kick the flavor of this recipe up a notch or use them in place of the tomato called for in the recipe.
- Sprinkle grated cheese or crumbled feta on top of your stuffed avocados. If you’re vegan, try plant based cheese instead.
- Make a stuffed avocado breakfast by filling avocados with eggs, bacon and cheddar cheese for a non-vegetarian option.
- Put chickpea tuna, grain salad or even bean salad inside avocados for another exciting way to make vegetarian stuffed avocados.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes with lime juice together. Then add into the mix to create a spicy version of this recipe for stuffed avocado.
- You don’t have to stick to a single condiment when recreating this recipe. Try adding a Tablespoon of mustard for a unique flavor.
- Both garlic and corn kernels also make wonderful additions to this vegetarian dish.
Stuffed Avocado Ingredients
To make this easy vegetarian recipe for stuffed avocados, you will need the following ingredients:
- Avocados: This healthy fruit is stuffed with yummy veggies mixed with vegan mayo for a filling meal. You will need to use ripe avocados for the best flavor. If your avocados are ready to eat, they will be soft, yet firm enough to hold their shape.
- Veggies: Cucumbers, celery, and onions are used to fill the avocados. These ingredients will need to be chopped or diced into smaller bits.
- Tomatoes: In addition to the vegetables used to make this dish, diced tomatoes are also included for flavor.
- Vegan Mayonnaise: As this recipe is vegan, it calls for vegan mayo. However, if you are vegetarian, you can use full fat mayonnaise made with eggs. For those non-vegans on a keto diet, I recommend using regular mayo and adding cheese to the ingredients.
- Seasoning: These veggie filled avocados are seasoned with a simple blend of garlic powder and salt. However, you can add additional spices are even fresh herbs to this dish, if desired.
- Parsley: While dried parsley is used as a garnish, this ingredient is optional.
How to Make a Recipe for Stuffed Avocados
Here is how to make this easy avocado recipe for a savory meal, snack or side dish:
1. Wash and dry all the produce. Then dice the tomato, cucumber, celery and onion into small pieces.
2. Place the produce into a medium sized bowl. Then add the vegan mayonnaise, garlic powder and salt. Mix well to combine.
3. Now slice the avocados in half. Remove the stone or seed from each.
4. Carefully scoop out 1-2 Tablespoons of avocado from the center of each avocado half. (You can reserved this to make traditional Mexican guacamole. Or use it for an avocado hair mask.)
5. Stuff the avocados with the filling you previously made, filling each half to the top with the mixture.
6. Garnish the vegetarian stuffed avocados with dried parsley to suit. Alternately, you may also garnish this vegan dish with fresh, roughly chopped herbs such as parsley or oregano. If desired, you can also add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice to help prevent browning as well as to add some flavor contrast.
You’ll want to eat this avocado dish immediately for the best appearance, texture and flavor. Serve one stuffed avocado as a main course for your family. Or cut each one half to enjoy as a side dish to your primary meal.
Storing Leftovers
These easy stuffed avocados are best served fresh. If you have leftovers that need to be stored, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container overnight. While the avocado may oxidize and turn brown, this dish is still safe to eat the following day. However, I don’t recommended keeping leftovers for longer than that.
To help prevent browning, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice to the vegetarian stuffed avocados before storing.
These vegetarian stuffed avocados make a quick and easy savory meal. Try this healthy avocado recipe as a low carb dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Or enjoy it as a tasty side dish to compliment your main course. You may also garnish this vegan dish with fresh, roughly chopped herbs such as parsley or oregano. If desired, you can also add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice to help prevent browning as well as to add some flavor contrast. You’ll want to eat this avocado dish immediately for the best appearance, texture and flavor. Serve one stuffed avocado as a main course for your family. Or cut each one half to enjoy as a side dish to your primary meal. These stuffed avocados are best served fresh. If you have leftovers that need to be stored, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container overnight. While the avocado may oxidize and turn brown, this dish is still safe to eat the following day. However, I don’t recommended keeping leftovers for longer than that. To help prevent browning, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice to the vegetarian stuffed avocados before storing.Stuffed Avocado Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3
Serving Size:
1 stuffed avocado
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 527Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 38gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 367mgCarbohydrates: 29gNet Carbohydrates: 14gFiber: 15gSugar: 6gProtein: 5g
Ways to Use Ripe Avocados
Whether you have 3 or even 5 ripe avocados on hand, these vegetarian stuffed avocados are a wonderful way to use up any extra ripe avocados in your home. However, here are some other great ideas for turning this fruit into a fantastic meal or snack.
- Use 3 ripe avocados to make authentic Mexican guacamole.
- Grab 2 ripe avocados to create mouth-watering guacamole quesadillas.
- Add chunks of avocado to a black bean and corn salsa to make a tasty avocado corn salsa.
- Use them when baking as a replacement for the fats in your recipe.
- Forget about eating avocados for dinner and use them to make a skin nourishing avocado face mask.
- Use them to make a 2-ingredient DIY hair mask with avocado and coconut oil.
- Add avocados to your favorite smoothie recipe to increase the fat content and add additional nutrients and minerals.
I hope you enjoy this healthy, vegetarian avocado recipe! For more delicious recipes for summer, be sure to follow Becca Ink on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.