Recipe Review - Caprese Stuffed Avocado

Since food can be beneficial or harmful, I thought it would be fun to start sharing recipes that I have tried, rate them and give you suggestions (if any) to make them better. With garden season here, this recipe could be very inexpensive with a cherry tomato plant and some basil in your herb garden.

Basil (Ocimum Basilium) - a common herb that can be used to make pesto and even lemonade. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium manganese. (source) Basil has been know to help with inflammation, pain, bacterial infections, acts as an antioxidant, cancer fighter, immune booster, aphrodisiac, improves bone density, aid in clotting of the blood, fever reducer, PMS, healthy brain, boost metabolism, depression, stress, heart health, liver health, digestion and diabetes.

For the entire blog article, nutrition facts and excellent pictures, please click on the link below.

Caprese Stuffed Avocado

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

• 4 oz (120g) baby mozzarella balls (bocconcini)

• 2 tablespoons basil pesto (homemade or store bought)

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• Salt and pepper to season

• 2 ripe avocados peeled, seeded and halved

• Fresh basil leaves to serve (optional)

• 2 tablespoons balsamic glaze reduction to drizzle

• 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped

Instructions

1. Combine tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pesto, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Toss well to evenly combine all of the flavours.

2. Arrange prepared avocado halves onto a plate with fresh basil leaves.

3. Spoon the Caprese filling into each avocado halve and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Top with chopped fresh basil. Serve immediately.

REVIEW

2 HUGE thumbs up. It was very good, even the kids liked it (minus the avocado) - they don't know what they are missing.

Things I would change:

• Fresh mozzarella in any form is great, the balls are nice and easy, but more expensive.

• Pesto is not needed unless you really want it. 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil are perfect.

• Change the olive oil to "as needed". My pesto had enough to cover what was needed. 1/4 cup would make it too oily.

• Regular or flavored balsamic vinegar can be used instead of a reduction, flavored vinegar will change the taste.

I accidentally grabbed this lovely vinegar (lemongrass mint white balsamic) instead of our 18yo aged balsamic. It was excellent!

​If you have any questions, please let me know via email at melissa@sweetwillowspirit.com. Have a wonderful day!

Love and light,

Melissa

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