Recipe: Pumpkin Avocado Pie
Avocado and almond milk replace evaporated milk in this healthy take on a holiday classic. But this nutritional upgrade can be your little secret…no one will be the wiser.
Pumpkins are super high in beta-carotene and recent research shows that adding avocado to carotene-rich veggies not only boosts absorption of the nutrient but also aids in their conversion to vitamin A.
As an experiment, I replaced the evaporated milk in the standard pumpkin pie recipe with a blend of almond milk and ripe avocado and served it to guests without tipping them off. Not only were they none the wiser, but the superior flavor and light, mousse-like texture of the filling prompted several requests for the recipe.
So, just in time for Thanksgiving, here’s my recipe for Pumpkin Avocado Pie. The fact that it contains nutrient-boosting avocado (or that it has 25% fewer calories and 40% less sugar than the standard recipe) can be your little secret.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 inch piece of ginger root (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)
- 2 eggs
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin
- 1 9-inch pie shell (unbaked)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 4250F.
- Combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Place almond milk, avocado, vanilla, and ginger into blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
- Add eggs to blender and blend on low speed until combined.
- Add avocado mixture and canned pumpkin to sugar mixture and stir until combined.
- Pour mixture into prepared pie shell and bake at 425 for 15 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 40 minutes. Pie will be slightly jiggly but set.
- Cool on a rack and serve with whipped cream if desired.
Images courtesy of Nutrition Diva.
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About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.
