Friday, April 8, 2011

Avocado ice cream

(NOTE: I used an ice cream maker to make this recipe, however you don't need one. I will include both ice cream maker procedures as well as non-ice cream maker procedures. If using an ice cream maker, be sure to chill the cooler for at least a day before making this recipe.)

So why avocado? Well besides being a great source of healthy fats, there are so many studies out there that prove the health benefits of including avocado in your diet. You can read about avocado and it's health benefits here, here, and here.

Ingredients:
Makes about 10, half cup servings. Nutrition facts (at the end) are for a half-cup serving.
  • 4 ripe avocados
  • 1c Greek yogurt
  • 0.5c skim milk/soy milk
  • 0.5c agave nectar
  • 0.5c lime juice
  • pinch of sea salt
According to Wikipedia, a study was conducted on the effects of avocado on cholesterol. Specifically, after a seven day diet rich in avocados, "the subjects showed a 22% decrease in both LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels and 11% increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels." SEVEN DAYS!
1.) If using fresh limes for juice, squeeze limes until you get half of cup of juice. It took 4 limes for me to get half a cup. Set aside.

2.) Cut avocados in half, remove pits, and scoop flesh out of skin. Cut into 1" cubes.
3.) Combine all ingredients into food processor or blender and blend till smooth.

4.) Pour mixture into a well chilled ice cream maker machine and follow your ice cream machine's directions from this point on. ENJOY!
If you're not using an ice cream machine, follow the next set of instructions (sorry no pictures for these procedures).

































5.) After blending all ingredients well, poor mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze for about 30 minutes or until mixture starts to freeze around the edges.

6.) Scrape down edges and mix avocado mixture well until all ice crystals are well combined. About 2 - 3 minutes. Place back in the freezer for another 30 minutes and repeat procedure two or three more times, until avocado mixture becomes hard to mix.

7.) At this point, leave mixture in the freezer for a couple of hours to really set and turn into ice cream. ENJOY!

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