Grilled Avocado And Tomatoes Basil Oil And Cotija Cheese With Pine Nuts Recipes

TOMATO-AVOCADO GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash together avocado, lemon juice, cumin and salt until smooth. Stir in parsley. Set aside.
• Lightly spread mayo on each of the bread slices. To build your sandwich, turn one slice of bread mayo side down in skillet; top with cheese; spread with avocado mixture and top with tomato slices the remaining bread slices.
• Cover your skillet with a lid or foil and cook on medium-low for several minutes to allow the cheese to melt and fillings to warm. Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high. Continue cooking until your bread is done to your liking.
• Note: You may substitute butter for the mayo, however, I find that the mayo makes the bread crispier and less greasy than butter. And it leaves no mayo taste behind.

GRILLED AVOCADO AND TOMATO SALAD WITH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Prepare the grill and let it burn down to medium hot coals. Squeeze the lemon juice into a nonreactive bowl large enough to hold the avocados in a single layer. Halve the avocados, discard the pits, and scoop out the flesh in one piece with a rounded spoon. Immediately toss the avocados with the lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
• Using a mandoline or sharp chef's knife, thinly slice the onion. Separate the onion into rings and place in another bowl. Pour some of the lemon juice from the avocados over the onions and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and set aside. Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into thin wedges, season with salt and pepper, and reserve.
• Remove the avocados from the lemon juice and set the bowl aside. Season the avocados on all sides with salt and pepper and drizzle very lightly with about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Too much and the oil might cause flare-ups.
• Grill the avocados, cut side down, until the outside edge looks a little dry and browned, about 2 minutes. Turn onto the rounded side and cook for another 2 minutes. Since so little area is exposed to the heat, this is just to soften, not cook, the avocados. If the avocados were very firm, leave on another minute. Do not turn too often or they may disintegrate. Return the grilled avocados to the bowl with the lemon juice. Spoon the lemon juice over them and set aside until cool enough to handle, then cut into thin wedges.
• Place several onion rings in the center of each salad plate. Arrange the avocados on opposite sides and the tomatoes on the remaining two sides. Drizzle each salad with about 1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon pesto. Season again with salt and pepper to taste and give each salad a coarse grating of cheese. Scatter the pine nuts on top, if using, and serve immediately.

GRILLED AVOCADO, TOMATO, RED ONION SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat a grill over medium heat.
• Cover a large tray with tomato quarters, and set aside.
• Place avocado halves in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Place each half on a hot open grill for about 30 to 45 seconds. Remove and place on top of the tomatoes arranged on tray. Drizzle with olive oil again.
• In another bowl, cover the red onion slices with the juice from the lemon half and olive oil. Place onions in the empty avocado pit holes. Cover with the lemon/olive oil mix. Then, top with pesto, distributing generously on all sides. Sprinkle pine nuts and cheese on top, to taste.