These avocado shrimp bites are a delightful and refreshing appetizer perfect for any gathering. The creamy avocado pairs beautifully with the juicy cherry tomatoes, creating a burst of flavor in every bite. Topped with a hint of lime juice and a blend of spices, this dish is sure to impress your guests.
If you don't usually stock avocados or cherry tomatoes in your kitchen, you'll need to pick these up at the supermarket. Make sure to choose ripe avocados for the best texture and flavor. The other ingredients like lime juice, garlic powder, and paprika are common pantry items but double-check to ensure you have them on hand.
Ingredients for Avocado Shrimp Bites Recipe
Avocados: The base of the dish, providing a creamy texture and rich flavor.
Cherry tomatoes: Adds a juicy and slightly sweet contrast to the creamy avocado.
Lime juice: Enhances the flavors with a zesty and fresh note.
Salt: Balances and enhances the overall taste of the dish.
Black pepper: Adds a mild heat and depth of flavor.
Garlic powder: Infuses a subtle garlic flavor without overpowering the dish.
Paprika: Adds a touch of smokiness and color to the mixture.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When mashing the avocado, use a fork to achieve a creamy yet slightly chunky texture. This ensures that the avocado mixture retains some bite and doesn't become too smooth. Additionally, to prevent the avocado from browning, mix in the lime juice immediately after mashing. This not only adds a zesty flavor but also helps maintain the vibrant green color of the avocado.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
Shrimp - Substitute with hearts of palm: Hearts of palm have a similar texture to shrimp and can be marinated to mimic the flavor.
Shrimp - Substitute with marinated tofu: Tofu can absorb flavors well and provide a similar protein content.
Shrimp - Substitute with jackfruit: When cooked and seasoned, jackfruit can replicate the texture of shrimp.
Avocados - Substitute with mashed peas: Mashed peas provide a similar creamy texture and a fresh, green flavor.
Avocados - Substitute with hummus: Hummus offers a creamy consistency and can be flavored to complement the other ingredients.
Cherry tomatoes - Substitute with grape tomatoes: Grape tomatoes have a similar size and sweetness.
Cherry tomatoes - Substitute with diced red bell peppers: Red bell peppers add a sweet and crunchy texture.
Lime juice - Substitute with lemon juice: Lemon juice provides a similar acidity and citrus flavor.
Lime juice - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds a tangy flavor that can mimic lime juice.
Salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor.
Salt - Substitute with seaweed flakes: Seaweed flakes provide a salty taste with additional nutrients.
Black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a similar spiciness with a slightly different flavor profile.
Black pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a bit more heat and spice.
Garlic powder - Substitute with fresh minced garlic: Fresh garlic provides a more intense and aromatic flavor.
Garlic powder - Substitute with onion powder: Onion powder can offer a similar savory depth.
Paprika - Substitute with smoked paprika: Smoked paprika adds a smoky flavor along with the mild heat.
Paprika - Substitute with chili powder: Chili powder provides a bit more heat and a similar color.
Other Alternative Recipes
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
- To keep your avocado mixture fresh, transfer it to an airtight container. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the mixture to minimize air exposure and prevent browning.
- Store the container in the refrigerator. The avocado mixture will stay fresh for up to 2 days.
- If you plan to prepare the avocado mixture in advance, consider adding an extra splash of lime juice to help preserve its vibrant green color.
- For the cherry tomatoes, it's best to add them just before serving to maintain their juicy texture and prevent the mixture from becoming watery.
- When it comes to the toast or crackers, store them separately in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them crisp.
- If you need to freeze the avocado mixture, scoop it into a freezer-safe bag or container, ensuring you remove as much air as possible. Label with the date and freeze for up to 1 month.
- To thaw, place the frozen avocado mixture in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, give it a good stir and add a bit more lime juice if needed to refresh the flavor.
- Avoid freezing the cherry tomatoes and toast or crackers, as their textures will not hold up well to freezing and thawing.
- For a quick assembly, keep the avocado mixture and toast or crackers ready separately, and combine them just before serving for the best taste and texture.
How to Reheat Leftovers
If you have leftover avocado mixture, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply let it come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes. This will help maintain the creamy texture and fresh flavors of the avocado and cherry tomatoes.
For the toast or crackers, it's best to reheat them separately to keep them crispy. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the toast or crackers on a baking sheet and heat for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are warm and slightly crispy.
If you prefer using a toaster oven, set it to 350°F (175°C) and place the toast or crackers inside for 3-5 minutes. This method is quicker and will also help retain the crunchiness.
Avoid microwaving the avocado mixture as it can cause the avocado to become mushy and lose its vibrant color. Instead, gently stir the mixture to refresh it before serving.
If you have combined the avocado mixture with the toast or crackers, it's best to consume them fresh. However, if you must reheat, use a low-temperature oven (around 250°F or 120°C) for a few minutes to gently warm them without making the avocado too mushy.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Knife: To cut the avocados in half and remove the pit.
Spoon: To scoop out the avocado flesh from the skin.
Mixing bowl: To mash the avocado and mix all the ingredients together.
Fork: To mash the avocado until smooth.
Measuring spoons: To measure out the lime juice, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
Cutting board: To halve the cherry tomatoes.
Serving platter: To arrange the small toast or crackers for serving.
Spatula: To mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Toaster: To toast the small pieces of bread if you are using toast instead of crackers.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prepare ingredients in advance: Chop cherry tomatoes and scoop out avocado flesh ahead of time to streamline the process.
Use pre-made toast or crackers: Save time by using store-bought toast or crackers instead of making them from scratch.
Mix spices beforehand: Combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a small bowl before starting.
Efficient mashing: Use a potato masher instead of a fork to quickly mash the avocado to a smooth consistency.
Batch preparation: Double the recipe and store extra avocado mixture in the fridge for quick assembly later.
Avocado Shrimp Bites Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 Avocados ripe
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- 1. Cut avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl.
- 2. Mash the avocado with a fork until smooth.
- 3. Add cherry tomatoes, lime juice, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix well.
- 4. Serve the mixture on small toast or crackers.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Main Courses and Desserts
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