15 Recipes for Surviving the Avocado Shortage (2024)

Don’t freak out, but we’ve heard some bad news. There’s an oncoming avocado shortage. With 95% of the US’s avo supply coming form California, the drought in the Sunshine State has caused a major hit to the number of avocados they’re able to grow. In the near future, we could be looking at a 28% increase in the price of avocados. With nature’s green butter becoming more rare — and therefore more expensive — we went out in search of alternatives. While there is no taste/texture twin to the buttery, tasty avocado, there are some contenders when it comes to replacing our guac hero. Here are some solutions for replacing avocados in the dishes we like to eat them most.

1. Spring Pea Guacamole: If we’re talking appearances, you totally had us fooled. Replacing avocados with peas makes this guac a little sweeter. The texture is really close, but lighter than what you get with an avocado. (via Tori Avey)

2. Avocado-Free Guacamole: Again, in the looks category this is definitely a guacamole doppleganger, so we were totally surprised to see that it was made with asparagus. On its own, asparagus definitely doesn’t get as creamy as guac, so in this recipe it gets some help from peas and mayo. (via Chocolate Covered Katie)

3. Edamame Guacamole: Similar to the texture of peas, edamame can come to your guac rescue. And it has half the calories and three times the protein, which make it great for an energy boost. (via Women’s Health Magazine)

In Sauces

4. Creamy Cilantro Dressing: When making an avocado dressing, limes and cilantro are a must. This dressing has all of those similar flavors, only without the avo. Instead, it has hummus. (via The Diva Dish)

5. Creamy Hummus: Speaking of hummus, it’s a perfect substitute for an avocado for spreading on a sandwich or eating as a dip, and this recipe is extra creamy. (via Neighbor Food)

6. Creamy Tuscan Spread: If you like spreading guac on sandwiches… or just about anything… this is a hearty substitute with a whole new flavor. It gets that perfectly chunky texture from artichoke hearts and black olives. (via The Girl Who Ate Everything)

In Salads

7. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad: Avocado in your salad can really amp the full factor. After all, there’s nothing so healthy and filling as a hearty salad. And this, ladies and gents, is a hearty salad. There are no avocados, but there’s so much delicious going on here you won’t even miss them. (via A Teaspoon of Happiness)

8. Roasted Sweet Potato, Wild Rice and Arugula Salad: This is the perfect hearty winter salad. Sweet potatoes are a close match for avocados in salad, and with wild rice and spicy arugula, this is worthy of being your main course. (via Pinch of Yum)

9. Kale Caesar Salad With Seared Artichoke Hearts: Even if you’re keeping things simple with Caesar, throw some artichoke hearts in there for extra girth and some veggie flare that you can’t quite get with avocados. (via The Chubby Vegetarian)

On Tacos

10. Spicy Sweet Potato Tacos: Your avocado vegetarian tacos just got updated with these yummy, spicy sweet potatoes. The recipe calls for an avocado dressing, but we say skip that and go for the cilantro lime dressing (#4). (via She Knows)

11. BBQ Cauliflower and Chickpea Tacos: When you’re going for a veggie-based taco, barbecuing is the way to go. With chickpeas for protein and a killer slaw, you’re ready for a delicious cookout. (via Potluck)

12. Chipotle Pulled Pork Tacos With Chayote Squash and Apple Slaw: Chayote is like a crispy squash. When cooked it actually has a texture similar to an avocado, so season it up and top your tacos with this yummy slaw. (via The Endless Meal)

On Toast

13. Grilled Bread With Thyme Pesto and Preserved Lemon Cream: We couldn’t leave you without some substitutes for one the year’s most famous food fads — avocado toast. The base of this spread is made with pine nuts, spinach and thyme, so it’s kind of like an herby hummus. (via Food 52)

14. Banana, Almond Butter and Chia Seed Breakfast Toast: If you prefer your breakfast sweet, this is a super simple, delicious alternative to avocados that’s packed with protein. (via Buzzfeed)

15. Spinach and Smashed Egg Toast: This is basically like a deconstructed omelet on top of toast, so we’re totally in. (via Smitten Kitchen)

Do you have an avocado substitute? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Katelan Cunningham

Katelan is a tech junkie obsessing over all things startup and design. She has entirely way too many apps on her phone and is no stranger to binge-watching. She accidentally fell in love in Los Angeles and that’s where she currently lives, writes, tweets and grams.

15 Recipes for Surviving the Avocado Shortage (2024)

FAQs

How do you make avocado for people who don't like avocados? ›

Lots of people who don't like avocados on their own can't get enough guacamole. Slice, pit, and mash 2-3 avocados, then add diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeños, cilantro, and sea salt to taste. Finish with a spritz of lime juice.

What is equivalent to an avocado? ›

Of the aforementioned options, we've found that only a few ingredients either share similar flavor profiles as the fruit or have comparable nutritional value. In terms of texture and nutritional benefits, edamame, tofu, hummus, nut butter, bananas, chia seeds, and pesto are all excellent avocado alternatives.

Why are avocados so expensive in 2024? ›

The price increase is partly due to weather that has affected production levels in key avocado growing regions in California, Mexico and Peru this year, said Brad Rubin, analyst at Wells Fargo's Agri-Food Institute, in an email to MarketWatch. California is expecting a smaller crop this year compared to last year ...

Why are chefs ditching avocados? ›

Problems include deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and water shortage in growing communities. Avocado farming is increasingly linked to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water shortages.

What not to pair with avocado? ›

The combination you want to stay away from is eating avocados (a fat) with nuts (a protein). The raw fat properties of the avocado have an inhibiting effect of the digestion of the protein in nuts.

How do restaurants keep avocados ripe? ›

The main goal is to prevent oxygen from touching the avocado's flesh. Plastic wrap is a practical, albeit not foolproof way to slow down the natural course of fruit aging. The trick is to make sure the plastic wrap is sealed flush with the flesh.

What country buys the most avocados? ›

Mexico and the U.S. are the largest avocado consumers in the world. While Mexico is also the largest producer and exporter, the U.S. mainly imports avocados from Mexico and partly exports its own avocados to neighbouring Canada.

What is the best time of year to buy avocados? ›

Avocados are available year round like most agricultural commodities these days, but January through March is the best time of year for flavor. It is during this time that the fruit has developed higher oil content, resulting in that buttery flavor and texture that we all love.

Why didn't avocados go extinct? ›

While it's true the big mammals are no longer around to help avocados spread their seed, but humans did develop a taste for the fruit and researchers believe we help the avocado stave off extinction.

Why not eat avocado toast? ›

Starting your day with a heavy, fat-rich meal like avocado toast could lead to an unbalanced intake of nutrients. This imbalance might affect energy levels throughout the day, as meals high in fat can cause sluggishness and hinder cognitive function.

Why do Mexicans eat avocado? ›

Avocados have long been a part of the Mexican diet, they are thought to have been extremely important among the indigenous people of ancient Mesoamerica, as the fruit provided sustenance and possessed mythological powers.

Who eats the most avocados in the world? ›

In terms of total consumption, U.S. citizens are the biggest fans of avocados, annually eating an average of 8.43 pounds apiece. The U.S. accounts for 79 percent of all avocados exported from Mexico, since there are so many fans north of the border.

How do I eat avocado if I don't like the taste? ›

The simplest way to enjoy avocados is by sprinkling them with a pinch of salt and pepper. You can also try other seasonings like paprika, cayenne pepper, balsamic vinegar, or lemon juice.

How do you make avocado taste good for picky eaters? ›

First of all, providing variety in how you serve foods can help your child understand that this new food can come in different shapes and flavors. Avocados can be served raw, on top of salads, or as dips. You can easily turn avocados into guacamole or chop them up into kid-friendly shapes. Next, consider portion sizes.

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