Avocados are probably one of the most popular foods today, and for good reason!
Packed with tons of health benefits and great flavor, avocado is great on its own or as an addition to any dish!
If you are like most Americans, you’re probably a fan of avocados. Did you know that we were dangerously close to experiencing an avocado shortage in 2022? That’s right, only about a month ago, the United States placed a ban on Mexican imports of avocados, which makes up about 80% of our total avocado supply! This would have resulted in a drastic price increase across the country and a nearly immediate shortage meaning no more avocado toast or extra guac at Chipotle. The ban lasted about a week and there was a ton of buzz on the internet about avo-gedden. Luckily, though, the U.S. lifted the ban and we didn’t have to experience daily life without the nutty sweetness that avocados bring to our flavor palettes! In celebration of this crisis-aversion, we decided to share a stellar avocado dip recipe that is guaranteed to be so good, you’ll wish you had made more! But before we get into this recipe, let’s explore the health benefits associated with eating avocados.
Image by Thought Catalog
What’s the Deal with Avocados?
Avocados bear a striking resemblance to pears in shape, but have a pretty unique flavor, texture, and appearance that’s hard to compare to other produce. However, it is easy to see why they would be called “alligator pears” in some parts of the world, due to its rich green coloration and rough exterior shell. Technically, well, botanically, avocados are considered a berry. This is because they grow on trees and enclose a large seed or pit.
These buttery berries are packed with a ton of essential health benefits including vitamins and nutrients such as Vitamins C, E, K, and B6, being a great source of healthy fats, being heart healthy, and also being high in fiber to aid in better digestion, plus so much more! You can read more about the health benefits of avocado by checking out this article by Medical News Today!
How to Make Avocado Dip
Now that we’ve covered some of the reasons why you should be enjoying the delicacy that is avocado, let’s discuss the how. To make our recipe for buttery and creamy avocado dip, the first step is to gather all of the necessary ingredients. You’ll need two medium-sized avocados, one lemon, some butter, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and any other seasonings you may like such as tajin. If you’re looking to make this recipe vegan, you can always opt for the vegetable spread or another binder such as coconut oil as long as you account for any conversions.
Once you’ve got everything you need, go ahead and slice up the lemon. Cut it in half and set the pieces aside for later.
Then, remove the basil leaves from the stem if necessary and begin chopping. It does not have to be perfect since it will be going into the blender, but getting the pieces small and even is going to make your dip all the more creamy!
Finally, the last major preparation step is to get your avocados ready. You can do this by cutting the avocados in half, removing the pit, and then popping them out of their protective shell. What’s easy about this recipe is that you can place the avocados into your blender as halves rather than having to slice them up, which saves you a lot of time and energy.
Add the chopped basil, butter, and seasonings to the blender. Then, take one of the lemon halves and squeeze it to get as much juice as you can into the blender. For an extra kick, you can grate some lemon zest into the blender or on the finished product as a garnish, but it’s entirely up to you.
Blend your ingredients up until they reach a creamy and irresistible consistency and enjoy your avocado dip on a sandwich or with some fresh pita!
Table & Thyme’s Creamy Avocado Dip
This creamy appetizer is a perfect pairing with pretty much anything and incredibly simple and easy to throw together!
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- 1/4 cup butter
- A bunch of fresh basil
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Red pepper flakes to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Cut lemons in half and set aside.
- Chop basil.
- Cut avocados in half and put the halves in a food processor or blender.
- Add juice of half a lemon, basil, garlic powder, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Blend until mixed well.
- Serve chilled with crudité or smear it on a sandwich.
We hope you enjoyed this recipe and celebration of avocados and, if you happened to try our recipe, we would love to hear from you! Be sure to share your experience with us on social media and stay up to date with everything Table & Thyme by following us on our socials (links below) and checking in with our weekly blog on a regular basis!
For more information on Table and Thyme, contact them today! Follow us on our social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest to see the other amazing events, lavishing grazing tables and beautiful graze boxes we have created.
