There is just something about sitting on the back patio on a cool summer evening with my hubby, a cold drink, and having chips and salsa that makes me feel good. 😀 I just love fresh salsa especially, when you can see every ingredient used. This Fresh Cherry Tomato Avocado Salsa is made with sweet ripe yellow and red tomatoes, diced sweet onion, cilantro, fresh avocado, and fresh squeezed lime juice.
Avocado
Avocado are known to be high in fat but, most of it is heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Avocados are one of the only fruits that has monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fats can improve blood cholesterol levels, decrease your risk of heart disease, and can help regulate blood sugars levels.
Avocados are also is rich in antioxidants called carotenoids. You will get carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene from eating an avocado. Carotenoids can help improve our immune system and protect body cells against damage from free radicals. Lutein and zeaxanthin can help protect our eyes against degenerative disease. Another bonus is the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, found in avocados helps the digestive tract form transport molecules to carry carotenoids up into the body.
Avocado Nutrition
1/4 avocado
Calories 84
Fiber 3 g
Potassium 254 mg
Vitamin C 4 mg
Folate 44 µg
Vitamin A 74 IU
Vitamin K 11 µg
Monounsaturated fatty acids 5 g
Tip: Place an underripe avocado in a paper bag so its natural ethylene gas will help it ripen. Avocados will turn dark quickly once they are cut. You can drizzle lemon or lime juice on freshly cut avocado to prevent browning.
- 5 oz yellow cherry tomatoes
- 5 oz red cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup sweet onion, diced
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 medium avocado, diced
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- Combine tomatoes and onion in a medium bowl. Add cilantro, avocado, and drizzle with lime juice.
- Season with garlic salt. (I use Lawry's)
- Serve with tortilla chips.
I like to add a diced jalapeño or Serrano pepper to this salsa for some heat. My little guys do not like spicy so, I left it out.
This salsa is so delicious and refreshing! I love the sweet tomatoes with the creamy chunks of fresh avocado, and the crunch of sweet onion. I served this Cherry Tomato Avocado Salsa with some Gluten-free multigrain chips that are made with flax, quinoa, brown rice, sunflower and sesame seeds. If you are looking for a tasty gluten-free chip, I am loving these Food Should Taste Good Chips. Their nutty flavor is the perfect complement to the fresh flavors of my salsa.
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Sources:
http://www.environmentalnutrition.com/issues/33_5/enonfoods/152012-1.html
http://www.environmentalnutrition.com/issues/29_6/enonfoods/151361-1.html
http://www.whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=5
http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2176?fg=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=&qlookup=&offset=&sort=&format=Abridged&_action_show=Apply+Changes&Qv=.5&Q4043=1.0&Q4044=1.0&Q4045=1.0
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