A healthy appetizer/snack made with nutritious Quinoa and Avocados with a hint of lemon juice and some green chilies.
Here is an healthy appetizer that is so close to my heart. I made this dish almost ten years back. They were always a big hit with the family. I have made them for dinners and get-togethers . I had posted this in my old blog as well. And now, more than a decade later it still continues to be one of the recipes I make so often. I have just tweaked it little by little over the years.
My naughty toddler filled the shells with alot of cheese ( as you can see in the pics;)). Sharp cheddar is a great choice for this recipe, medium should be fine too. Instead of using the avocado shell, you can use ramekins as well. Depending on the size of the avocados, you may also end up with some extra filling. In that case, use ramekins and top it with some cheese. Bake them the same way as the shells.
To cook the quinoa - In a sauce pan, bring water ( 1/2 cup quinoa will need twice the water,ie., 1 cup of water) to a boil. Add the required quinoa, cover and simmer for 12-15minutes or until the water is absorbed. Let it come to room temperature before use. I usually make a large batch and use it in different dishes.
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Serves - 4
INGREDIENTS
2 avocados, medium size - ripe
lemon juice, from 1/2 lemon
3/4 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup + 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
3-4 green chilies/1 jalapeno, chopped
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
salt as needed
Cut the avocados into two, discard the seed and scoop out the pulp. Retain the shell. In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados and lemon juice. Add in the cooked quinoa, 1/2 cup grated cheese, green chilies, salt and cilantro. Mix well. Fill this mixture inside the avocado shell( You can use a ramekin if you like). Top it with the remaining cheese.
Preheat oven at 450F. Bake for 10 minutes. The cheese would have melted by now. Change the setting to Broil and cook it until it turns slightly brown on top, about 5-6 minutes. ( watch out for this step - each oven varies). Serve them warm. Enjoy!