Vegan Avocado Boats with Quinoa Hearts of Palm Salad {GF}

Stuffed avocado with quinoa hearts of palm salad make for a perfect light dinner or appetizer. Quinoa is mixed with tender thinly sliced hearts of palm, scallions, and drizzled with an avocado mayo. Serve in lightly scooped out avocado halves for a sophisticated yet easy to make meal.

Once you go grocery shopping in a foreign country you instantly know you’re far away from home. Some countries you’re not so far, others you’re a bit farther away. It’s just funny sometimes the things that jump out at you when buying groceries.

For example here in Costa Rica the first thing I noticed is that every grocery store sell canned hearts of palm. And not just one brand and variety, but several. In cans vs glass jars, in tall spears vs cut into rounds. This caught my eye quickly because in the US usually I have to search multiple aisles hoping to spot a can of hearts of palm.

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Sometimes I can’t even find it.

Well, after a bit of research it all started to add up. Turns out Costa Rica is a large producer of hearts of palm (and the primary source of hearts of palm in the US.

So that’s speaking of things you can easily find in Costa Rica, and now on to what you won’t find.

Lemons. Not a lemon in sight and I have even read blog posts about restaurant owners not being able to get access to lemons at all in Costa Rica.

And it seems the situation has gotten better over the years. Just the other day I was chatting with one of the neighbors (of the house where we are house sitting) and she was saying how 10 years ago if you saw something on the shelf like peanut butter or cocoa powder you would buy all  of it. Months could go by before you would see it again.

That seems to have gotten better at least, but still no lemons. Limes are in abundance though so for the next two months get ready for lots of lime based recipes and salad dressings.

Another interesting thing I spotted in the store was a plastic box full of small round peppers. I instantly assumed they were the mini sweet peppers. The ones that are bright, vibrant and perfect for salad. I was about to add them in a large quantity to a different dish and at the last minute I thought to myself – better try these, just to be sure they are not spicy.

Hot damn.

They were spicy. So spicy that the fingers on my hand were literally burning and hot to the touch for a few hours after cutting them. No joke.

Do not just add peppers to dishes in foreign countries without trying them on spice level first. Mistake averted, otherwise the dish would have been inedible.

Now that I know that, I can add them in moderation to add a bit of heat, like in this dish. I have made avocado boats multiple times in the past – I just love them (and all things avocado related of course). This time I wanted to include my new friends – the hearts of palm.

Cut those into matchsticks and mix with a bit of quinoa, scallions and capers. Then mix that all up with a home made vegan avocado mayo – yep I said it – avocado mayo.

This dish is avocado on avocado served in a stuffed avocado. Dream come true meal for the avocado lover.

Stuff the combined mix back into the lightly scooped out avocado halves and lunch or light dinner is ready. Stuffed avocado ready to go!

A super light and flavorful meal with just a hint of spice and fluffy quinoa, creamy avocado and tender hearts of palm.

Have you ever tried a stuffed avocado recipe?

5 from 1 vote

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Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa Hearts of Palm Salad {GF}

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

Stuffed avocado with quinoa hearts of palm salad make for a perfect light dinner or appetizer. Quinoa is mixed with tender thinly sliced hearts of palm, scallions, and drizzled with an avocado mayo. Serve in lightly scooped out avocado halves for a sophisticated yet easy to make meal.

Course: Lunch, Salad

Cuisine: American, gluten free, Healthy, Vegan

Servings: 2

Calories: 444 kcal

Author: Vicky Berman

Ingredients

• 1 can hearts of palm cut into matchsticks
• 1/4 cup green onions diced
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 small chili pepper minced
• 1 tablespoon capers
• cayenne for sprinkling
• salt/pepper to taste
• 1 avocado cut in half and half of the avocado scooped out and cubed
• For the avocado mayo:
• 1/2 avocado
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon coconut milk
• 1 small clove garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

1. In a blender combine the avocado mayo ingredients: 1/2 avocado, olive oil, coconut milk, garlic, and lime juice. Blend until smooth.
2. In a large bowl combine quinoa, hearts of palm, green onions, chili pepper, capers, and cubed avocado.
3. Mix avocado mayo with quinoa bowl.
4. Serve in avocado shells.

Nutrition Facts

Stuffed Avocado with Quinoa Hearts of Palm Salad {GF}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 444 Calories from Fat 342

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 38g 58%

Saturated Fat 6g 30%

Sodium 156mg 7%

Potassium 845mg 24%

Total Carbohydrates 24g 8%

Dietary Fiber 11g 44%

Sugars 1g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 6.9%

Vitamin C 23.8%

Calcium 3.5%

Iron 10.8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.