Vegan Stuffed Avocados (Aguacates Rellenos)
Avocados aren’t just for making guacamole. This healthy stuffed avocado recipe is filled with a refreshing seafood-like mixture made from hearts of palm, tomato, and wakame (no tuna required) and drizzled with a creamy serrano avocado salsa.
These vegan stuffed avocados are easy to prepare, loaded with healthy fats, and perfect as a quick lunch, appetizer, or even a light summer dinner. If you’re looking for easy stuffed avocados that double as a gorgeous avocado appetizer, this one deserves a spot on your list of favorite recipes.
What Are Stuffed Avocados?
Aguacates means avocado in Spanish, and rellenos means stuffed.
Aguacates rellenos are a popular food in Mexico that’s served as a fiesta appetizer or as a light meal when paired with other foods.
They are a favorite among many Mexican cooks because they’re incredibly easy to make and the filling can be anything you can imagine or depending on the season or holiday.
Typically, they are made by slicing the avocado in half, removing the large seed, and filling the center with a favorite filling.
There are countless variations and some of the more popular stuffings are tuna salad, chicken salad, shrimp or seafood combinations. All of which can easily be made into meatless versions!
This is one of my favorite meals during the hot summer days, especially when I don’t want to cook or don’t know what to cook.
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Stuffed Avocado Recipe
• Avocados are versatile and this is a fun way of enjoying them in other than guacamole or salsa.
• You can customize the filling in these easy stuffed avocados.
• Comes together quick enough for busy weeknights when you want a light meal.
• This pretty avocado appetizer is perfect treat for entertaining.
• These aguacates rellenos can be served as an appetizer or paired with a salad and soup for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients for Vegan Stuffed Avocados with Creamy Serrano Salsa
Hass Avocados: You’ll need them both for stuffing and for making the creamy salsa verde.
Filling Ingredients: I made a quick salad using hearts of palm, Roma tomato, and crushed wakame for that seafood taste. Check the section below for other stuffing variations if you don’t like this hearts of palm recipe.
Creamy Serrano Salsa Ingredients: You’ll need serrano peppers, avocado, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic powder, and salt. You may also need water to help thin down the salsa.
Toppings: Serve with extra lime wedges, sprinkle with chopped cilantro, and for extra savory taste top with crumbled feta cheese. My favorite vegan feta cheese is the one from VioLife.
Alternative Ingredients
- You can mix in red onion and bell pepper with the hearts of palm for a heartier filling.
- Or if you don’t like hearts of palm you can stuff with either my plant-based tuna salad recipe or my chicken salad recipe made with soya meat.
- Another option would be ceviche made with cauliflower or the ceviche de soya.
- If you don’t have limes then you can use fresh lemons instead.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Stuffed Avocados
1. Prep the filling
In a medium mixing bowl, combine chopped hearts of palm, tomato, and crushed wakame. (If you’re using the red onion and bell pepper add it now.) Season with salt, then mix until well combined.
2. Make the creamy serrano avocado salsa
In a food processor, combine the avocado, serrano pepper, cilantro, garlic powder, lime juice, olive oil, and salt. Blend until smooth, adding a splash of water until you get a thick drizzle-able consistency.
3. Prepare the avocados
Slice avocados in half, remove the seed, and you can remove the peel or leave it. Rub each half with lime half to prevent it from going brown. If your avocados are small, you can scoop out a little bit of the avocado center to make more room for the filling. Use these extra bits in the salsa or mix into the filling.
4. Assemble the stuffed avocados
Scoop a generous amount of the filling into each avocado half. Drizzle with the creamy serrano salsa, top with cilantro, and sprinkle with vegan feta cheese if you like.
5. Serve and enjoy right away
How to Serve Stuffed Avocados as an Appetizer or Meal
These are delicious served right away as an appetizer, or with a green salad or soup for a light healthy Mexican meal. As previously mentioned, you can serve stuffed with vegan ensalada de atun or vegan Mexican chicken salad, either of these will add more protein to the meal.
Soups like my cheese and potato soup, sopita de conchas or coditos, or caldo tlalpeño go well with these stuffed aguacates.
For a carby side dish you could serve with Mexican red rice or arroz blanco.
Refreshing drinks like my cucumber-lime agua fresca, agua de tunas, and watermelon agua fresca pair well with this dish.
Storing
You can make the salsa and avocado stuffing and store it in an airtight container until ready to use. But the avocados should not be sliced until you’re about to serve them.
More Meatless Mexican Appetizers to Try
- Chorizo Cheese Dip Recipe
- Mexican Marinated Vegan Cheese and Tofu
- Queso con Chile
- Tlacoyos
- Salchipulpos
Gracias
I’m so happy you stopped by. If you have any questions or want to let me know how you liked this recipe, do leave a comment. Muchas gracias, I appreciate you!
Stuffed Avocados with Creamy Serrano Salsa (Vegan & Seafood Free)
Ingredients
For the stuffed avocado halves:
- 3 medium-large ripe avocados halved and pitted
- one 14oz can hearts of palm drained chopped into small pieces
- 1 large Roma tomato diced
- 1 teaspoon crushed dried wakame or nori, for that “seafood” taste
- 1 medium Mexican lime or lemon
- pinch of salt or to taste
For the creamy serrano avocado salsa:
- 1 medium-large ripe avocado
- 1-2 medium serrano peppers stem removed and roughly chopped (deseed if you want less heat)
- ½ cup fresh cilantro adjust to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- pinch of salt adjust to taste
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil adjust to taste
- water as needed to thin out the salsa
Optional toppings:
- Chopped cilantro
- Crumbled feta cheese VioLife brand is best
- Extra lime wedges
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine chopped hearts of palm, tomato, and crushed wakame. (If you’re using the red onion and bell pepper add it now.) Season with salt, then mix until well combined.
- Place the avocado, serrano pepper, cilantro, garlic powder, lime juice, olive oil, and salt in a food processor bowl. Process on low or pulse until smooth, add a splash of water at a time.
- Slice the avocados in half, remove the seed, and you can remove the peel or leave it.
- Brush each half with lime juice to prevent it from going brown.
- If your avocados are small, you can scoop out a little bit of the avocado center to make more room for the filling. Use these extra bits in the salsa or mix into the filling until you get a creamy consistency.
- Scoop a generous amount of the filling into each avocado half. Drizzle with the creamy serrano salsa, top with cilantro, and sprinkle with vegan feta cheese if you like.
- Serve right away and enjoy!
Recipe Notes & Pro Tips
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions About Stuffed Avocados
Can I make stuffed avocados ahead of time?
Prep just the filling in advance and store it in an airtight container for no more than a couple of days. For best results, keep the avocado halves uncut until serving to avoid browning.
What’s the best avocado for stuffed avocados?
Hass avocados are best because of their creamy texture.
Are stuffed avocados healthy?
Yes! Avocados are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and essential nutrients. Paired with fresh veggies, this recipe is both nourishing and satisfying.
Can I make these without serrano peppers?
Yes, you can substitute with fresh jalapeños for a milder heat or leave out the chiles entirely for a non-spicy version.
How do I keep avocados from browning?
Brush the sliced halves with lemon juice or lime juice and store them in an airtight container. This helps maintain their fresh green color until you’re ready to serve.
How can I make breakfast stuffed avocados?
For a recipes breakfast twist, try topping with a Just Egg scramble or a tofu scramble. People who eat eggs will crack an egg into the center and bake it until the egg is set.
How do I make these grilled stuffed avocados?
A fun twist is to grill the avocados before stuffing them. You can brush the halves with a little olive oil then place directly on a charcoal grill, or you can heat a grill pan over medium heat and grill each half for a couple of minutes before stuffing.
Are stuffed avocados gluten-free?
Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free since it’s made with fresh veggies and avocado halves. Just double-check any additional toppings like vegan feta cheese or store-bought dressings to be sure.
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Looking for a Barro Plate Like Mine
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Nancy Lopez is a Mexican-born food writer and author of Mexican Tamales Made Meatless. Raised in the U.S. and now living in Southern Mexico, she creates authentic vegan and vegetarian Mexican recipes rooted in tradition and tested for real home kitchens.Read more…
