This recipe originally appeared on my former website, Fighting for Wellness, in May 2012. While not exactly a complex recipe, it's still a favorite in the summer months. There's a lot of filling fiber, but relatively few calories so be sure you're pairing it with something more calorie-rich (for a meal) or having it as a snack.
Ingredients:
1 whole avocado
Handful of cherry tomatoes
2 fresh whole white mushrooms (or a handful of pre-sliced)
4 thick slices of cucumber
1 thick slice of red onion
Lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
3 leaves of romaine or Boston lettuce
Preparation:
Slice open avocado and remove pit. Slice both avocado halves into sections while still in skin, then remove with a spoon (if your avocado is very ripe, you can also do a mashed version rather than cubed avocado). Slice each cherry tomato in half and then cut each half two more times, in alternating (cross) directions to form small pieces. Add tomatoes (and juice) to avocado. Cut each cucumber slice into small wedges (I usually do each slice into 4-8 sections, depending on thickness) and add to mixture. Roughly chop red onion and mushroom into small pieces and add to mixture. Add enough lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
Mix all ingredients until evenly incorporated and spoon mixture into lettuce leaves. This mixture will fill approximately three leaves, depending on how full you like your wraps and the size of your leaves.
That’s it! No cooking (which means no added heat to your kitchen in the summer), very little cleanup, and you have a delicious and filling meal or snack. I have been known to slice up a banana and some raspberries in a bowl for dessert to accompany this meal, but it is great as is. Other great additions include hot sauce, fresh herbs, and other kinds of fresh veggies.
While avocados are somewhat high in calories and fat as a single ingredient, the fat they provide is the “good” kind that helps lower LDL (the bad) cholesterol. They also provide a host of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B, K, and E and more potassium than a banana! The best part, in my opinion, is that the creaminess in avocado helps me to not miss having cheese with my meal. As a cheese lover, that is saying a lot.