Happy National Avocado Day! If you’re not already on the avocado train, consider this your formal invitation to climb aboard. You’ve likely heard that avocados are a superfood, which is just another way to say that they contain a lot of nutrients and they’re beneficial to a person’s overall health when eaten regularly. Among many other benefits, avocados are:
- rich in potassium, which many people are deficient in. Increasing potassium intake can reduce blood pressure in some instances of hypertension.
- high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation.
- full of fiber, which has been shown to aid in weight loss and controlling blood sugar spikes.
- high in healthy fats, which may help you feel fuller longer after meals.
And those are just the benefits of an avocado on its own! When you add avocado to a meal, the fats from the avocado help you absorb anywhere from 2.5 to 15 times more vitamins and antioxidants from other fruits and vegetables.
Perhaps most importantly, avocados are delicious! And adding them to your menu can be super easy, to boot. You can cube an avocado and toss it on a salad or a bowl of chili, or you can slice it up and serve it on toast or a sandwich.
For even more flavor, you can whip up one of these easy avocado-based condiments and add it to salads, burgers, tacos, nachos—or just dig right in with raw veggies or tortilla chips!
Guacamole
This classic is easily the first thing most folks associate with avocados. This is a basic but delectable dish that can function as a dip, topping, or main course, depending on how you prepare it.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your guac! You can mix in crab meat or shrimp and OLD BAY, grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and so on. If you’ve never made guacamole before, it’s super simple—give it a go!
Have leftover guacamole? For minimal browning from oxidation, lay a generous piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the guacamole in the bowl, making sure to cover every bit of the guacamole for an air-tight seal.
Avocado Hummus
This playful twist on traditional hummus is sure to be a hit at your next social gathering. It lends itself nicely to your dipper of choice, from pita bread to tortilla chips to crudités. It also makes an excellent spread for toast, sandwiches, wraps, and burgers! Feeling adventurous? Swap out the chickpeas for other legumes like black or navy beans.
