Sneaky Lightened Up Guacamole

Happy happy Monday!  Short week this week and I can not wait, Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays of the year!  I think because it’s so close to my birthday I just keep celebrating the whole week/weekend through.  Birthday Week!  Today marks the official start of intensively pinning on pinterest and looking for recipes to bring to the backyard party or maybe deciding what you will serve if your hosting yourself.  Although I will be heavily filling my Stars and Stripes pinterest board, I’m going out of town for the Fourth so I won’t be making anything.   If I wasn’t going out of town though I would definitely make this Guacamole, it’s a total crowd pleaser, healthy, and easy to make!  I’ve been making it pretty much every time someone comes over on the weekends and so far everyone has LOVED it… and no one suspected that it was lightened up at all!

I usually try to make lightened up guacamole the lazy way–> salsa + yogurt + avocado (so good).  It taste amazing, but it looks like poop.  So I got to thinking, how could I give it the rich green color you expect from guacamole while lightening up the calorie load a bit? (*Note:  Avocados are full of tons of healthy fats which are heart and waistline friendly.  If your curious I wrote about the recent research for avocados and nuts in terms of weight loss –> here.  However, at any back yard cookout the calories tend to be a little bit out of control.  Lightening up this all time favorite just helps keeps your appetizer in check before the burgers, hot dogs, and dessert make their appearance.)  So I decided to make a “base” with the salsa, yogurt, and throw in some spinach to keep things super green.  It took a couple of tries to get the flavor (a little onion goes a long way) and consistency right.  The green “base” must be made first so that the avocados don’t get over blended, the dip can easily turn into a soup if overmixed.  Once I got that all figured out though friends and family couldn’t quit talking about how good it was, not one person suspected it was a healthy spinach filled version and I didn’t say anything (till today.)

(If you’re using a reader or on email, be sure to click through for the recipe.)

Also make sure you enter the Hungry Hobby favorites Blogiversary Giveaway if you haven’t yet, I’ll pick a winner Friday!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!

No ratings yet

Sneaky Lightened Up Guacamole

Don't tell them it's lightened up and they will never know! Just make sure you make an extra batch for yourself because it's going to disappear fast!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: Gluten Free, Mexican, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 36 servings

Author: Kelli Shallal MPH RD

Ingredients

• 2-3 cups fresh spinach
• 2 green onions
• 2 roma tomatoes (seeds removed)
• 1/2 cup salsa verde (tomatillo)
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain green yogurt (or 1/4 cup more salsa if no dairy)
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 3.5 avocado
• 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

• Add all ingredients EXCEPT avocados into a blender or food processor, puree all ingredients until smooth.
  
• Add avocados and pulse (or turn on low) until just combined. (Alternatively I think it would be even better just to mash them into the sauce by hand, that way you have total control over the consistency.)
• Garnish with more cilantro, avocado pieces, tomato pieces, or whatever you like!

Notes

Per 2 Tablespoons:

Tried this recipe?I'd love to see what you made! Tag me @hungryhobbyRD or tag #hungryhobby if you try this recipe!