Is there a more perfect food than avocados? Probably not. Not only are they loaded with fibre, potassium, and anti-inflammatory vitamins, but you can incorporate avocados into any meal of the day — plus snacks and drinks. It’s no wonder avocados are the featured ingredient in Top Chef Canada’s intense new mystery challenge.
The good news is you don’t have to be a professional chef to reap the delicious benefits of this amazing fruit. Aspiring cooks and home chefs can enjoy avocados year-round regardless of the kind of dish you’re creating. Need a bit of inspiration? We’ve teamed up with Avocados From Mexico to bring you 10 delicious, Top Chef Canada-worthy avocado recipes you can enjoy anytime — from breakfast to martini!
1. Green Power Bowl
If you’re looking to add more greens to your life in the yummiest way possible, don’t reach for another smoothie. Instead, try this nutritionally charged power bowl. It’s the perfect vegan side salad or lunch, thanks to the varying textures, and it all comes together with a creamy, avocado-based vinaigrette that will leave you full and energized.
Get the recipe for Green Power Bowl.
2. Easy Lobster and Avocado Risotto with Fennel and Peas
This fancy lobster risotto is Top Chef Canada-worthy, but it’s also deceivingly simple to make. Combine quality ingredients like lobster, fresh avocado, and parmesan for a cheesy and creamy risotto that packs punches of flavour in each and every bite. Serve it at a dinner party or luncheon to impress guests, or whip up a pan of this stuff for a romantic date night.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Easy Lobster and Avocado Risotto with Fennel and Peas.
3. Avocado Chocolate Pie
Serve up a slice of this downright sinful chocolate pie, and guests may never believe you when you reveal your secret: this is an avocado recipe. Yet avocados are the reason this pie is so creamy and rich. Add a dollop of coconut whipped cream and an Oreo cookie crumb base, and your friends will be begging you to bring this dessert to their next potluck.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Avocado Chocolate Pie.
4. Spicy Avocado Martini
The avocado-infused spicy syrup featured in this gin martini recipe won’t just knock your socks off — it may inspire you to become an at-home mixologist. The unexpected pop of flavour takes this cocktail to the next level, making it the perfect thing to sip after a long day or with good friends to ring in the weekend.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Spicy Avocado Martini.
5. Spaghettis With Creamy Avocado Pesto and Grilled Mushrooms
Pesto is the grounding flavour force in this avocado pasta, which brings freshly cooked pasta and grilled mushrooms together on your next dinner plate. The combination of creamy avocado, toasted walnuts, fresh basil, and al dente pasta is a delicious yet simple weeknight dinner idea that comes together in a matter of minutes with a blender.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Spaghettis With Creamy Avocado Pesto and Grilled Mushrooms.
6. Avocado Breakfast Bagel
We’ll always have a soft spot (okay, obsession) for avocado toast. Still, an avocado breakfast bagel can be a heartier and more indulgent breakfast — one you can savour even on the busiest of mornings. That creamy avocado flavour is only enhanced by peppery arugula and salty bacon, making this the sandwich you truly deserve in the mornings.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Avocado Breakfast Bagel.
7. Avocado Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers
Looking for the perfect snack or appetizer for the big game this weekend? Avocados take your regular old jalapeño poppers to a whole new level. You can assemble the avocado-cream cheese mixture ahead of time and then stuff your peppers before everyone comes over. That way, you’ll have hot and fresh poppers for everyone to indulge in as they ask you what your secret is.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Avocado Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers.
8. Guacamole With Black Bean and Tomato on Cheese Quesadillas
Looking for a delicious but simple lunch that will keep you full and energized well past that 3 p.m. wall? Enter this Top Chef Canada-worthy concoction that makes us want to head on vacation, pronto. This avocado recipe pairs basic cheese quesadillas with a protein-packed version of guacamole for a flavourful plate you’ll want to recreate again soon.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Guacamole With Black Bean and Tomato on Cheese Quesadillas.
9. Rösti Cakes With Avocado and Smoked Salmon
Potato rösti, which is basically a version of potato pancakes or latkes, are always an impressive dinner, snack, appetizer or side. But these special spuds are extra mouthwatering thanks to the next-level garnishes. We’re talking fresh avocado, of course, but also smoked salmon, sour cream, and minced herbs like chives and dill that offer dreamy flavour and texture.
Avocados from Mexico
Get the recipe for Rösti Cakes With Avocado and Smoked Salmon.
10. Fennel, Oranges and Avocado Salad With Herbs and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Tired of the same old lunchtime salad? This avocado recipe is guaranteed to reignite your taste buds in a Top Chef Canada kind of way. Earthy fennel and creamy avocado ground this plate, while fresh herbs and juicy orange punch up each bite. It’s fresh and simple, but this avocado salad works just as well as a side or an appetizer.
Avocados From Mexico
Get the recipe for Fennel, Oranges and Avocado Salad With Herbs and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.