Meat-free Monday: Button mushroom stuffed avocado
This is what happens when you take two faves and join them together. Button mushrooms + avocado = today’s recipe for Meat-free Monday.
There is a good reason why mushrooms make for the perfect Meat-free Monday dish. Umami-rich mushrooms are an excellent nutrient-rich food that is low in calories, cholesterol, and sodium, and they provide plenty of fiber and flavor. But the big news is that they contain robust amounts of antioxidants, selenium, riboflavin, Vitamin D, and other healthful substances that protect the immune system and may even fight cancer.
Today’s recipe by The South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association combines two South African favourites – avocados and button mushrooms – for a tasty dish full of earthy flavour. So satisfying and ready in just minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 large ripe avocados
- 200g baby button mushrooms
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 1 small red pepper
- Handful fresh basil
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp basil pesto
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 fresh chilli, finely diced
- Sea salt flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon
Method
- Slice the baby buttons into quarters and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Quarter the cherry tomatoes and add them to the bowl. Brunoise or finely dice the red pepper and add it to the mix.
- Finely slice the basil and add it to the bowl along with the olive oil, basil pesto, vinegar, fresh chilli, and a good amount of salt and pepper. Toss everything until well coated.
- Slice the avos in half and carefully peel them and remove the pips. Cut a small piece off the bottom of each half so that they can sit flat on a plate.
- Brush the avo halves generously all over with lemon juice.
- Spoon the mushroom mixture into each half and serve with an extra wedge of lemon.
Gin pairing
- 50ml Cape Fynbos Gin
- Pomegranate rubies
- Fresh green chilli slices
- 150ml tonic water
Fill desired glass with ice and add the pomegranate and a few slices of fresh chilli. Pour in the Cape Fynbos Gin and top with tonic.
Gin Pairing Note
The botanicals found along the coast of the Western Cape make wonderful accompaniments to light dishes and summertime suppers. Packed full of these Cape botanicals, Cape Fynbos Gin is the perfect match for this zesty dish of mushroom stuffed avocados. The rich mouth feel of the avocado is cut perfectly by the clean and herbaceous notes found in the Cape Fynbos Gin.
