Recipes

Don't Throw That Overripe Avocado Away, Make These Recipes Instead

Use your slightly over-the-hill avocados for delicious fruit smoothies, like this mango and avocado smoothie. Shutterstock
Angela Carlos|

We've all experienced the disappointment of an overripe avocado. Slicing open this creamy fruit to find that its usually bright green flesh is speckled with unsightly brown is more than a little disappointing. Next time you let your avocado over-ripen, don't despair; you can salvage your creamy treat by turning it into a hearty soup, healthy smoothie, and even ice cream.

Click here for the 10 Things You Didn't Know About Avocados slideshow.

We love avocados for their creamy texture and mild taste, but the added bonus of healthy fats, potassium, folates, and vitamin C doesn't hurt when we are trying to find the holy grail of ingredients — foods that actually taste good while being good for you. However, picking a ripe avocado can be a game of guesswork, unless you know what you are doing.

Check out the stem of the avocado to see if your fruit is past its prime. If you remove the nob and see green, your avocado is ripe; however, if you see brown, it may be best to hide the fruit in a smoothie rather than display it in a salad.

Check out some of our favorite recipes that come to the rescue when you stumble upon an overripe avocado.

Avocado, Coconut, and Lime SorbetFor the Avocado, Coconut, and Lime Sorbet recipe, click here.

Use your slightly over-the-hill avocados for delicious fruit smoothies, like this mango and avocado smoothie.

I know what you're thinking. Avocados in a sorbet? Oh, just you wait. The coconut and lime add a tropical panache, but the avocado gives it a very distinctive, smooth finish. I can't think of a more gratifying way to get a healthy scoop of monounsaturated fats. — Kim Barnouin

Avocado Margarita

Use your slightly over-the-hill avocados for delicious fruit smoothies, like this mango and avocado smoothie.

Mask your overripe avocado with a little booze. This recipe for an avocado margarita might not speak to the healthier qualities of the fruit, but it is certainly delicious.

For the Avocado Margarita recipe, click here.

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Use your slightly over-the-hill avocados for delicious fruit smoothies, like this mango and avocado smoothie.

This rich and creamy smoothie recipe is both healthy and tasty. Enjoy this blend of healthy fats from the Greek yogurt and avocado, as well as a boost of energy from the protein powder. This is the perfect post-workout treat.

For the Chocolate Avocado Smoothie recipe, click here.

Dairy-Free Creamy Avocado Soup

Use your slightly over-the-hill avocados for delicious fruit smoothies, like this mango and avocado smoothie.

This dairy-free soup gets its creamy texture from the avocado, so in this instance the riper the fruit the better. Cashews, onions, chives, and dairy-free yogurt give this soup plenty of flavor.

For the Dairy-Free Creamy Avocado Soup recipe, click here.

 

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