Surprise… this isn’t guacamole!
It sure looks like guacamole. But the secret ingredient in this avocado-free dip is… asparagus?!
Yes, it’s true! And you can use it any way you’d use regular guacamole: as a dip for chips or veggies, spread on a sandwich, as a sauce for pasta or baked potatoes, or plain with a spoon. High in fiber and vitamins, it’s a great way to take advantage of all the nutritional benefits asparagus has to offer.
View Asparagus Guacamole Nutrition Facts
Avocado-Free Guacamole
(Makes about 1 and 3/4 cups)
- 8 oz asparagus (34-36 skinny spears, ends trimmed)
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsps peas (or 5 oz frozen, thawed)
- 2 tbsp mayo, such as Vegenaise, OR homemade Greek yogurt
- Juice of 1/2 a lime
- 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp diced red onion (omit if desired)
- optional 2 tsp dry cilantro
- optional sweetener if desired
Steam the asparagus just until soft, then combine all ingredients except onion, and blend in a food processor until very smooth. Stir in onion. Refrigerate until cold. (Or you can steam the asparagus in advance and chill them so your dip will be cold after blending.)
Nutrition facts for the recipe are linked at the beginning of this post.
SCORE!! …I DESPISE avocados (since always) on a purely textural/taste basis…but I simply LOVE asparagus…Thank you so much for creating an alternative for me while the rest of my family noshes on the “traditional-avocado” version!! Question…Could one use the jarred green variety of asparagus “points” as well!! It could be a time-saver in a pinch and when the veggie is out of season!
OOPS…I forgot to ask what kind of chips you suggest to accompany your marvelous dip?…Which ones do you use in the photo…or do you have other ideas?…Thank you so much!!
The ones in the photo are… I think the brand is Xolotil (something like that). Sorry, I don’t know about the asparagus question!
I cannot eat avocados because they make me very sick (I cannot even have a tiny bit in sushi =/). I am extremely interested in trying this though. It’s seems like a great alternative. =D
Made this and threw in a little cayenne pepper, too, to add a bit of a kick. It’s really good – definitely hooked. 🙂
I’m looking forward to making this! I love asparagus!
Thought I’d post an actual taste-test review since many comments just seemed to be excited about the idea but hadn’t yet made this…
I tried this recipe just now and absolutely ADORE it. I never thought I’d eat asparagus again (was the vegetable of choice at my house growing up and got sick of it), but when it went on sale for .99/lb and I saw this recipe, I thought I’d give it a shot. Katie, you have reunited me with asparagus! I love regular guacamole (and the healthy fats in avocado), but this version is good in its own right–it tastes like spring to me :). I even skipped the mayo altogether and it was great.
And, as I have never posted before, I have to say that I LOVE this blog! I have loved all the recipes I have tried (well, except bean blondies, but my veggie-hating husband liked those, so it was still a win!). I am neither vegan nor vegetarian (much respect to those of you who are), but I love your recipes because they are truly both healthy AND tasty! Thank you so much and please keep up the savory recipes :).
Thank you!!! Your comment made me smile so much. I’m so happy you tried the dip :).
I am intrigued by your non-guacamole guacamole. Though I lost complete and utter respect for you when you said you don’t like guacamole. (KIDDING!)
I love almost all guacamole I have ever tasted, but I am so curious to find out how your dip tastes. I am THRILLED to have found the recipe at the exact time our local store has asparagus on sale 🙂
I wouldn’t want to substitute all the healthy benefits of avocado.
Canyon Ranch does this and I used to make it from their cookbook all the time before I went to the dark side and grew to like avocado.
Just posted about making this–a few tweaks as I always do, but totally loved it!
Thank you!
http://ulteriorharmony.blogspot.com/2012/04/styling-and-two-more-recipe-reviews.html
I loooove avocados and i never thought to search for an alternative… until now. I serve dinner at our weekly Bible study group and I want to serve some Mexican food… but none of my guests like avocados… grrrrr. So I started searching and found this… thank you so much for the recipe… I am looking forward to giving it a try. I really like the way that it looks so that my food presentation will still look like I was expecting it to look… and yet will hopefully be palatable for my guests… I may add a bit of chopped tomatoes for texture and color, but oooh, I can’t wait!
This was amazing…I was skeptical but it was fantastic! I added chopped tomato and used fresh cilantro and a couple of different spices, which I would use in my “real” guacamole. Oh my goodness, this is a keeper and re-make!
I was so excited to stumble across this!! My boyfriend has a bad reaction to avocados, but he’ll sometimes cheat and eat guacamole anyway (and complain of stomach pains). I just sent him the link to this recipe–we’ll probably make it this weekend. Thank you!
I made this today (to go with leftover tamale pies from last night) and it is delish! I used white aparagus and (unfortunately) mayonnaise. I alsp pureed it WAYY to much, but other than its txture my boyfriend had no clue it wasn’t avacados.
Thanks for posting this!
I love avocados and guacamole. Avocados are very beneficial to one’s health. I would never substitute anything other than avocados in guacamole.
Looks yummy! Guacamole is actually a very healthy dip regularly though(as long as there aren’t fried chips involved). Avocado is high in fat, but your body needs some of those fats!
Still, love peas and asparagus so I’ll have to try this out!