Were you going to make your favorite salad but ran out of avocados? Or maybe you are allergic to them? Do not worry; you can still make the most delicious and nutritious salad without avocados! In this article, we will show you the 8 best avocado substitutes in salads you can easily find in your kitchen or get from a local grocery shop.
What to use instead of avocado in a salad? Here are 8 perfect avocado substitutes in a salad:
- Silken tofu
- Pumpkin puree
- Hummus
- Peanut butter
- Pesto sauce
- Feta cheese
- Asparagus
- Greek yogurt
Now let’s dive into each avocado substitute and see how you can use it in a salad.
Silken Tofu
Tofu is a high-protein avocado alternative made from dried soybeans. When using tofu as an avocado alternative in salads, opt for silken tofu, not for firm varieties. Tofu has a very bland, subtle creamy flavor and acquires the taste of other salad ingredients. Tofu is a low-fat product that goes well with anything in your salad, whether you are making just vegetable salad or also adding some meat or even fruits.
See also: What Does Tofu Taste Like? Ultimate Tofu Taste Guide
Silken tofu has a delicate texture similar to a ripe avocado and a subtle creamy, buttery flavor. Tofu is much less flavorful than avocados, but when combined with other salad ingredients, tofu absorbs a new taste that can easily substitute an avocado. Silken tofu has a delicate, soft texture perfect for salads and a smooth appearance. Since silken tofu has a softer texture, it crumbles easily (it has the biggest water content of all tofu varieties), so no one will even notice tofu in the salad. Silken tofu tastes better in cold salads but can also be used in warm salads.
Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree has a rich, creamy flavor with notes of creaminess and a delicate, soft texture, so it is a great avocado alternative in salads. You can buy canned pumpkin puree in the shop, but it is better to make your own. Homemade pumpkin puree tastes better, has a smoother and silkier texture, and has a sweeter, creamier taste. All you need to do to make pumpkin puree at home is to pick the right pumpkin (must be 4-5 pounds, firm to the touch, and have no spots), wash, dry, and cut it, scrape out the seeds, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, and process in the blender until smooth. So there you go, now you can enjoy this excellent, creamy avocado alternative in your autumn salad!
Even though the best pumpkins are available only in mid-autumn, it is definitely a must-try when you cook a flavorful vegetable salad and are looking for avocado alternatives.
Hummus
Are you looking for a creamy texture with a buttery, nutty flavor with subtle hints of tartness for your salad? Then hummus is your best choice. Hummus is jam-packed with minerals and nutrients and is a superfood, just like avocado. Hummus has a similar creamy texture and a pleasant, delicate, creamy taste that will make any salad perfect. Hummus has that garlicky, tangy and savory taste that goes well with all vegetables (celery, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.), whether fresh, pan-fried, or grilled, as well as fruits (apples, pear), cheese, crispy bread, meat, and eggs.
See also: What Does Cornstarch Taste Like?
Hummus also has subtle spicy notes that will enhance the flavor of your salad and a perfect avocado-like texture with nutty notes. You can buy classic hummus or with added herbs and spices to make the salad flavor more pronounced. Hummus can be found in any grocery shop or ordered online.
Peanut Butter
If you are looking for a delicate, silky texture and a pronounced creamy, nutty taste, then peanut butter is your best go-to. Peanut butter can be found in any American house, so you will not need to rush to the shop to make a mouth-watering salad. Peanut butter is slightly sweet and has a silky texture, just like avocado, so it will be a great avocado alternative in any salad.
See also: What Does Peanut Butter Taste Like? In-Depth Peanut Butter Taste Guide
When buying peanut butter, ensure it does not have any preservatives, oil, or sugar. Real peanut butter should only have ground peanuts and salt. You can also make peanut butter at home as it only takes 15 minutes. Peanut butter tastes great in salads, it gives this nutty and creamy taste with pleasant salty notes. Peanut butter goes well with fruits and veggies (apple, pear, strawberries, sweet potatoes, celery, chili) as well as meat (beef, lamb), poultry, and even seafood. So no matter the salad you want to cook (fruit, veggies, or even seafood), peanut butter will be an excellent avocado alternative.
Pesto Sauce
If you need a bright and herby flavor with rich, salty notes, try substituting avocados with pesto sauce! Pesto sauce has a pleasant vegetal flavor with pronounced creamy and garlicky notes and goes great with vegetables, meat, and seafood. Pesto will give your salad an invigorating, bold kick and plenty of health benefits. Pesto sauce can be made at home or bought from the shop.
See also: What Does Pesto Taste Like? Pesto Taste In-Depth Guide
Pesto sauce might not have the most smooth texture compared to avocado, but it has a similar flavor and color. Pesto has a complex flavor profile as it contains many different ingredients, including basil, garlic, pecorino, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts, so it will give your salad a pronounced vegetal, creamy, buttery, and nutty flavor. Pesto sauce can be used in vegetable, meat, and seafood salads, but it is not used for fruit salads.
Feta Cheese
Just like avocado, feta cheese has tangy, rich with slight salty notes, and goes well with veggies, including tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, asparagus, red pepper, corn, and zucchini. Unlike other cheeses, feta has a rather subtle, not overpowering flavor that does not hide the flavor of other salad ingredients. Feta has a crumbly but delicate texture and is a great avocado alternative in vegetable salads, but it also goes well with meat.
Feta cheese has a lot of health benefits and has fewer calories than other cheeses, so it is a perfect choice for those who want to adjust their diets. Feta also has this perfect moisture level that will make your salad juicy enough without making it too moist. When choosing feta in the shop, opt for the well-known brands to avoid low-quality bitter feta with metallic notes.
Asparagus
Try adding blanched asparagus spears instead of avocado in your salad to find that tender-toothsome bite. Asparagus has this slightly grassy flavor with bitter notes. Asparagus has a different texture and a slightly bitter taste than avocado, but when blanched, it becomes a perfect avocado substitute in vegetable salads. If you do not like blanched asparagus, try roasting it in the oven with olive oil to get a more nutty and creamy flavor.
See also: 7 Best Corn Substitutes In Recipes (Salads, Chili, Soup, Chowder, etc.)
Asparagus is a versatile vegetable and goes well with other vegetables (garlic, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms), cheese, meat (beef, veal, lamb), bacon, ham, poultry (chicken, duck, turkey), seafood (salmon, scallops, tuna, crab), and butter. Asparagus may not have avocado’s creamy texture, but it goes well with many foods and makes a perfect salad, giving it refreshing notes.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has a plain, creamy flavor and a delicate texture and can be a perfect salad dressing and avocado alternative. It is high in protein, contains vitamins B12, and is low in calories. Greek yogurt could be a little sour, but its thick and velvety texture will go well with vegetable and fruit salads. Greek yogurt can also be a great avocado alternative in smoothies. If you add a little bit of vanilla extract and honey, Greek yogurt will make a perfect fruit salad.