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We are just two months into Avocado season in California, and if you haven’t been enjoying the delicious and incredibly nutritious fruit, there’s no better time to start!

Packed with nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, this superfood is also sodium and cholesterol free and contains only five grams of fat per serving, making it one of dieticians’ favorite foods.

While Avocados are a food, its amazing health benefits have made it into the perfect beauty aid. People use avocados for hair masks, face exfoliators and even homemade eye creams.

Avocados are also a very versatile food. You can add a few slices to a sandwich or a wrap, dice them up and throw them into a Pico de Gallo for creamy texture or grab a spoon and eat it straight from the rind. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can make heavenly appetizers and mouthwatering dishes that are perfect for summer.

Here are a couple of recipes you can make at home that are very simple, healthy and, more importantly, very delicious.

Strawberry and Avocado Salad
Just the like name says, this salad contains two summer staples: strawberries and avocados. This simple salad requires no measurements, just add on the ingredients to your liking. All you need for this is arugula, spinach, strawberries, an avocado, sliced almonds, a red onion, goat cheese and a little bit of black pepper.

Slice up the strawberries, onion and avocado, and mix all the ingredients in a bowl. For a healthy dressing, just add some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or keep it really light, and squeeze some fresh lemon juice over it.

This is a perfect summer dish to make for lunch. For a light dinner dish, just add your favorite protein, and voila!

Avocado Garlic Hummus
Although this appetizer may sound complicated to make, it’s incredibly easy and delectable. Your guests will think you’re a pro in the kitchen and will be begging for this recipe.

Ingredients:
1 Avocado
3 Cloves of Garlic
1 Can of Garbanzo Beans
½ Cup of Cilantro or Parsley
3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt
½ of a Lemon, sliced and squeezed
Pinch of Black Pepper to taste

Roast the garlic cloves in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes. Once cooked, peel the cloves and put them into a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients into the food processor, except for the olive oil, and mix. Slowly add the olive oil to make sure it won’t be too runny or too thick. Once all the ingredients are blended, move it into a bowl and enjoy with some pita chips or carrot and celery sticks. It is that simple.

For picking the freshest avocados in Los Angeles, you can visit the Historic Downtown Farmers Market where they have fresh, organic and locally grown produce including California Avocados. They also offer fresh fruits, grass-fed beef, prepared foods, yummy baked goods and pastries. It is located between West Fifth Street, between South Spring Street and South Broadway, and held every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Once considered a luxury food for royalty, avocados are one of the best superfoods that California is now proud to grow for all. Make sure you pick some up while they are in their peak.

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