Southwest Grilled Avocados Recipes

GREAT AMERICAN SOUTHWEST SLIDERS WITH PRICKLY PEAR AND GRILLED AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• Heat an oiled grill to 400 degrees F or heat an oiled grill pan.
• For the salsa: Slice the red onion into thick slices, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut avocado in half and remove the pits. Grill the onion and avocado halves on an oiled grill until slightly charred. Remove the onion to a cutting board and dice. Scoop avocado flesh into a bowl and add 1/2 cup of diced grilled red onion. Stir in the diced cactus, cilantro, cumin and chipotle pepper sauce. Mash the mixture and mix well. Add the garlic, tomato and lime juice and combine well. Season with kosher salt and pepper, to taste. Press plastic wrap onto the surface of the salsa and cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the sliders: In a large bowl, combine the beef, chorizo, tortilla chips, 2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper and mix gently. Form into 18 golf ball-size rounds, then flatten and shape into a size to fit the buns.
• Oil the grill and put the burgers on the grill. Tent the burgers with foil or a hotel pan and squirt with water to create steam. Grill the burgers until desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium. After turning, divide the slices of Monterey jack among the burgers. Put the rolls on the grill and close the lid until the cheese is melted and the rolls are toasted.
• For the crema: In a small bowl, whisk together the crema and chipotle hot sauce, to taste.
• Put the burgers on the roll bottoms and top with salsa and crema. Cover with the roll tops. Stuff the prickly pears with tortilla strips and serve alongside the sliders.

SOUTHWEST GRILLED AVOCADOS

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove pits from avocados and brush first with lemon juice, then extra virgin olive oil.
• Place avocados skin side down on grill for 2 minutes, turn and grill for 2 more minutes.
• With a spatula, carefully remove avocados from grill and spoon salsa into seed pits.

GRILLED AVOCADOS

Steps:

• Stir together olive oil and lime juice. Brush avocados all over with olive oil mixture. Sprinkle cut sides of avocados with salt.
• For charcoal grill, grill avocado halves, cut side down, on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 5 minutes or until browned. Turn avocado halves, cut side up. Fill centers of avocado halves with the 1/4 cup picante sauce and shredded cheese. Cover grill and grill about 5 minutes more or until cheese begins to melt. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place avocado halves on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above).
• Remove avocados from grill. Sprinkle tops of avocado halves with snipped cilantro. If desired, serve on a bed of salad greens with additional picate sauce and sour cream.