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If there’s one food that has skyrocketed in popularity in the last 5 years, it’s avocado.
I swear, millennials flock to this creamy green machine like bees to honey…
Avocado toast. Avocado chocolate pudding. Avocado in smoothies. Avocado facials.
Memes, merch, you name it — if it’s got anything to do with avocado, it’ll be Instagrammed.
And full disclosure, I love it. I make the meanest guacamole this side of the Mississippi, so I fully support our cultural obsession.
So I thought tonight, I’d tempt your tastebuds with one of my favorite spring dishes: my Deconstructed Guacamole Quinoa Pilaf.
All the bright, fresh flavors of guacamole, made into a hearty dish!
And it’s gluten free, vegan, and Paleo!
One great thing about this dish is that it’s totally customizable. If quinoa isn’t your “thing” — you can substitute! — Brown rice, wild rice (YUM!), millet, buckwheat, pasta, zoodles, — even lentils! It’s totally up to you! I like quinoa, because it’s a complete protein 🙂 – And this brand is my favorite because it’s pre-rinsed.
And it’s SUPER easy and SUPER quick to prepare!
Here’s What You Need: (Serves 3-4)
1 cup quinoa, cooked in 2 cups vegetable stock, per package directions
2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes, halved
1 red pepper, diced
1/4 red onion, finely minced – or grated
1 garlic clove, grated
1 avocado, diced
big bunch cilantro, chopped
juice of 2 limes (divided)
1 green onion, sliced
8 black olives, sliced
Tortilla chips (optional garnish)
Tools:
Microplane zester
sauce pan with tight fitting lid
good chef’s knife (This is the one I use and love)
2 mixing bowls
Pyrex measuring cup
Directions:
Cook your quinoa quinoa per package directions.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, place the diced avocado and toss it with the juice of 1/2 a lime salt. ((Pro tip: Nuke your whole, un-cut lime in the microwave for 30 seconds, and it will make the juicing process SO much easier!)) Place in the refrigerator. In another bowl, combine your tomatoes, pepper, onion, garlic, half of your cilantro, salt and the juice of half a lime. Toss them together and set aside.
In a little dish (I used a Pyrex measuring cup), combine the juice and zest of 1/2 a lime, 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, salt, and the sliced white and light green parts of a green onion. (Reserve the dark green top slices for garnish).
When the quinoa finishes cooking, fluff it with a fork, and “fluff in” the tomato mixture, remaining cilantro, and lime/green onion sauce.
Serve, topped with a mound of diced avocado, black olives, green onion, cilantro, and tortilla chips as a garnish.
What a fiesta of a forkful! I mean, holy cow guys — out of this world!
It really hit the spot. It was light. It was fresh. It was unbelievably delicious.
There were 3 things really working in its favor: 1) The textures. 2) The flavors. And 3) The beautiful colors! Let’s start with the textures: Quinoa is such a super food — not only because of its high nutrient content and complete protein status, but also because of its fantastic flavor and texture! It is deep and nutty and “pops” in your mouth! It’s so fun to eat! That with the crunchy peppers, chewy olives, and the juicy bursting tomatoes, paired with the creamy, cool avocado makes it so enjoyable.
Next, the flavors! The first flavor that hits you is the bright *zing* from the lime, and then the fresh cilantro chimes in! The peppers are sweet, the tomatoes give a little sweet acidity, and the olives provide a little salty pop. This is all rounded out by the buttery and fresh avocado. A symphony for your palate.
Finally, this dish is just aesthetically beautiful. The dark quinoa brings the drama to the plate, highlighted by the bright red peppers, lemony green avocado, black olives and the bright green cilantro. Talk about a plate that’s fit for Instagram!! 🙂
What are some of your favorite ways to eat avocado!?
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
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40 responses to “Deconstructed Guacamole Quinoa Pilaf”
Looks awesome! We love avocados! 🥑😊 God bless!
Thanks Ryan!! I do too! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
The presentation is beautiful! Seems fairly easy to prepare but I am from the few population of people that doesn’t like avocado…….but I am sure it is delicious! Thanks for sharing. I will pass this along to my friends!
Thank you Lane! Oh! haha – a good substitute…hmm…roasted sweet potato?!! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
Random related thought. Many years ago, I saw a billboard from some avocado farmers’ organization that said “Trees produce oxygen. Really cool trees produce oxygen and avocados.”
Hahahahah oh my gosh I absolutely love that!!!!!
Consider putting nutrition facts with recipes?
That’s a great idea! I’ll see what I can do 🙂 thanks Kathryn for the suggestion! Hugs and love xox
This looks delicious! I’ll have to try this!
Thanks so much Michelle!! I hope you love it! Hugs and love xox
We’ve decided this would be wonderful with Mexican rice as a base! Added it to the menu!!! Love your recipes sooooo much!!
Oh wow that’s so awesome! And yum! That sure sounds delicious!! Hugs and love xox
[…] https://beautybeyondbones.com/2019/05/01/deconstructed-guacamole-quinoa-pilaf/ […]
Thanks Tonya for the link up! Have a great day! Hugs and love xox
As usual it screams to be eaten, slowly and with appreciation. 🙂
Hahah slowly and with appreciation. That made me laugh. Thanks so much Ian! Hugs and love xox
Yum!!!!!! Looks amazing and definitely worth trying—I’ll probably do zoodles or even riced cauliflower—or maybe everything but the quinoa. (I try to keep life low-carb.) Thank you!
Thanks so much Joanne!! Oooh riced cauliflower! YUM!! Hugs and love xox
Yummo!!! Love me some avocados…my daughter and I are the only two in our fam that like avocados..which I’m okay with because it means more for us!!!!🥑
Thanks so much!! Oh yes – avocados are the cats meow! Haha Hugs and love xox
So…nothing to do with this post, but have you heard of the Boundless NYC meetup that will be Saturday (May 4th) in Times Square Church? They have a facebook page for the event. If you’re looking for godly young men, the chances are higher there than other places, perhaps 🙂
…just for fun…
Oooh interesting! I haven’t heard of that!! I will certainly look into it! Thanks for the heads up!! Hugs and love xox
This sure is yummy. I am not that much follower of recipe and with my temporary kitchen in the garage ( due to remodelling work), don’t see trying this in near future but it will be in my list. I love avocado ( and I am not a millenial as you may have guessed by now.
Thanks so much!! Oh gosh – kitchen in the garage! Gosh, I hope the remodel quickly!! Hugs and love xox
It’s already over schedule by month and half😢
Oh nooooo – unfortunately I think that’s the name of the game when it comes to construction.
Yeh, tell me about it.
🤦🏻♀️ I guess as they say, good things take time, and are worth the wait
😂😂😂
🙂
I’m not a guacamole fan (I promise, I still love avocados – so please don’t kick me out of the millennial club!). But this dish looks fantastic! Putting it on the “To Make” list…
Hahah thanks so much!! Hope you love it! Hugs and love xox
Caralyn, you are trying to turn me into a Vegetable lover. No matter what I say, all your dishes look good and I enjoy the ones I have tried. Keep sending us your love.
Haha I’m trying my darnedest!! Haha thanks so much 🙂 big hugs xox
Your recipe sounds so good. Can’t wait to try it ! thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Linda! I hope you love it! Would love to hear how it goes! have a great weekend! hugs xox
Now I’m not good with avocados .. but my son loves them and this recipe looks like something he would love ! He loves his veggies and he is on a strict nutrition I won’t say diet it’s just he eats a lot of veggies salads off and on rice loves his black beans chicken boneless skinless sweet potato’s , so this recipe with avocados perfect .
Awesome! Yeah, avocados are a love’em or hate’em type food for sure — kinda like cilantro!! haha thanks for all your kind responses~!!! 🙂
I’m probably going to get banned from the internet for this, but I would rather lick a rock off the ground than eat avocado.
Hahahahahhahaha oh my gosh that made me laugh out loud! Gotcha – they’re not for everyone! 🙂 Hugs and love xox