Beyond Guac

by Shauna Sever — February 13, 2008

Avocados are one of those fantastic natural foods that, when perfectly ripe, can immediately make you close your eyes upon eating a slice and marvel that something that good just comes right off a tree. They may be some of the most magical food to come from Mother Earth, but it seems like some of our favorite ways to eat fresh avocados can also wreak havoc on our diets. Give me some fresh guac and a bowl of tortilla chips and I'm a happy girl, but the calorie count can be a killer! Avocados supply so many nutrients and good fats that are great for us, but moderation is key with these green gems. This tasty salad dressing is a creamy, flavorful way to enjoy a touch of avocado flavor and all of the nutritional goodness while keeping your avocado calories in check. It's also an awesome way to take advantage of those sales of ripe avocados that sometimes pop up at the grocery store.

Avocado Dressing

This dressing is obviously a great addition to any vegetable salad, but it's also delicious on grilled chicken, beef, or fish and is great with crackers, too. You can spice it up with some garlic, cayenne, curry, your favorite dried herbs, etc. And by switching out the olive oil for a bit of yogurt and adding a touch of honey, it's a unique addition to fresh fruit salads.

1 avocado, peeled and mashed
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Water

In a food processor or blender, blend avocado, lemon juice, and olive oil until smooth. Salt to taste and add any other desired seasonings. With the processor or blender running, stream in a bit of water until the desired consistency is reached. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container and refrigerate.