These easy superfood snacks or appetizers come together in minutes. What's not to love about avocado with cucumber?! Thank you to California Avocados for helping me to share this recipe with you.
Backpacks dropped by the door, shoes kicked off and two boys' hands wildly grabbing every snack item from our fridge and pantry. The first day of school is still a week away, but already I'm envisioning the scene at 3:30pm on every weekday from now to next summer.
"Didn't each lunch today, huh?" I will jokingly ask, partly horrified but mostly amused by the amount of food being consumed. It's like watching barracudas in a school of fish.
"Oh no, we ate everything in our lunch bags," they'll likely say. "But that was, like, three hours ago."
Sadly, if I consumed even a quarter of what they did, my jeans and I would be having words. Not pleasant ones. But these are middle school boys we're talking about. Growing. Running. Growing. Wrestling. Growing some more.
And so there will be snacks. Veggies with hummus, cereal, no-bake granola bites, mini quesadillas and anything that involves California avocados, as stipulated by the prolific weeds that used to be my children.
If mass quantities of snack foods are going to be consumed, veggies will be in the mix, particularly ones that fall into the "superfoods" category. Superfoods, loosely defined as foods that are packed with nutrients and are good for our bodies. There are many foods considered to be "super", each for different reasons. Avocados and cucumbers happen to be two of them. To me, that sounded like the perfect equation for a healthy after-school snack. And besides, California avocados are at their peak right now, and we're mixing them into every salad, sandwich, pasta dish and snack that we can think of! Their flavor and texture are unmatched at this time of year.
I labeled these as "Greek" cucumber cups. Perhaps I should have specified Greek-inspired, as I don't think these little appetizers or snacks are something that you'd find on the menu of any Greek restaurant. But feta cheese, kalamata olives and tomatoes are involved, so I'm rolling with the "Greek" title.
The method is simple: slice an English cucumber into 1-inch sections, scoop out the middle, mash the avocado and mix it with olives, cheese, tomatoes and cayenne pepper (if desired) and fill up the cucumber cups. In less than 15 minutes, you'll have a healthy snack or appetizer!
Other avocado recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce
Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Quesadillas with Avocado, Zucchini & Basil
Dine & Dish's Grilled Hot Dogs with California Avocado Relish
A Southern Fairytale's The Triple "B" Avocado & Tomato Summer Salad
Noble Pig's Grilled Avocado-Barbecue Chicken Naan Pizza
Souffle Bombay's Spicy Guacamole with Grilled Corn
Shrinking Kitchen's Mexican Kitchen Avocado Salad
Average Betty's California Avocado Flatbread
Greek Avocado & Feta Cucumber Cups Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large California avocado peeled & pitted
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ tomato diced
- 2 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
- 3 pitted kalamata olives sliced
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Using a melon baller or a small, sharp knife, remove the middle of each cucumber piece, leaving the bottom intact.
- In a medium bowl, mash the avocado with a fork. Stir in the lemon juice, tomato, feta cheese, olives, salt and cayenne pepper.
- Fill each cucumber cup with 2 teaspoons of the avocado mixture. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post is part of my ambassadorship with California avocados. All opinions are my own.
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
LOVE the feta and kalamatas mixed in with the avocado. And of course the edible cucumber cups are so much fun!
heather | girlichef
My kids are always starving when they walk in the door after school...always! I love these fresh, tasty little bites - virtuous nibbles.
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom
These are simply fantastic and would be gobbled up in no time by my girls when they got home from school!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
LOVE. I'm gonna add a little bacon too, okay? 🙂
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I'm all about pigging out on “superfoods”! I wish I could actually pig out on it though haha but I agree with you, if I ate like kids do I'd never fit into anything! Also I think the GREEK title is perfect for these!
Lora @cakeduchess
That sounds like my house every day after school and I was just thinking today about how it will be next week after school. I have one kid that doesn't take the time to finish every thing and is pretty hungry after school...this is a perfect snack to have ready!!
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer
I LOVE this! Great snack idea or a side for lunch! Has all of the healthy fats in one bite! Totally making this!
The Food Hunter
I am going to serve this at my next dinner party!
Martha @ A Family Feast
I wish I had the metabolism of a teenage boy! (But sadly I don't...) These cucumber cups look wonderful - we're having a party this weekend and I'm thinking this would make a perfect appetizer to serve! Thanks for sharing!
Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen
Perfect summer snack/appetizer! Love the avocado in there.
Amy @Very Culinary
Dara, you make the best snacks/apps! Love these.
Rachel Cooks
I love everything about these! Craving them for lunch now!
kellie | The Suburban Soapbox
I can tell you right now...if I make these for an afternoon snack they will be gone before my kids get home. No snacks for them! These are phenomenal, totally everything I love in life...and so cute to boot!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay)
Digging the Kalamata olives you included! What a great after school (or anytime) snack!! I don't want school to begin! I miss them already, lol!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
What a super fun idea - love everything about this recipe!