To all the Nutritional-Yeast-lovin’ ladies (and men):
Be sure to check out Amanda’s comment, as it’s super-important!
.My friends are funny people. When I first met them, the dad was dead-set against getting a dog—any dog. But fast-forward ten years, and not only do they have a dog, they also have a horse. Well, really the horse is a giant Schnauzer. But she’s so huge, she could be a horse.
Hello, I’ll be your monster today. Woof.
And now that you’ve been sufficiently scared… Here’s a recipe I meant to post a long time ago (read: back in 2008): “Aspara-Guac.” It makes a great stand-in for guacamole, especially if—like me—you don’t like avocados. (Shame on me, I know. I’ve tried to like them!!)
You can use it basically anywhere you’d use avocado (or hummus, for that matter):
- Guacamole
- Sandwich spread/filling
- Dip for veggies/chips
- Plain, with a spoon
- Pasta sauce or “pesto”
And even if you do like avocados, you should still give this dip a try! Besides tasting delicioso, it’s also chock-full of vitamins, thanks to the asparagus 
.
Above, with chopsticks, in true chopstick-challenge fashion. Eh, I ate a few bites with chopsticks anywhoos…
Springtime Aspara-Guac
(Click on the above link for my original post—with more photos—of this creamy dip)
(Makes about 2 cups)
- 7 or 8oz asparagus spears
- 5oz frozen peas
- 2 Tbsp vegan mayo (such as Nayonaise)
- 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (or 1 Tbsp dry)
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 or 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 Tbsp red onion, chopped
Puree everything in a food processor until smooth. I like it cold, but I have to admit that I’ve never tried it hot.
Question of the Day:
Is there any healthy food you know is good for you that you just can’t seem to make yourself like? That’s how I am with avocados. And olives too. For my sister, it’s bananas. She’s really cute about it: she’ll actually force herself to eat one banana every month, because she says it makes her feel healthier.
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah! That dog is HUGE! I may or may not try the asparagas dip, because I looove avocadoes! I’m still learning to love nooch though. I can’t think of any other healthy foods I really don’t like…just unhealthy junk like white rice and twinkies!
Hahaha – how about ALL veggies for me?!
I actually have no problem liking healthy foods. The only example I can think of is overnight oats, but then again that’s just because I’d rather have my oats and yogurt separate, which is also healthy
oh wow, that dog is MASSIVE! But cute!!!
Hmm.. I can’t stand olives either. I keep giving them another try but I just don’t like them. And celery. Blech.
Avocados have been my one fruit hate for some time now, and recently I forced myself to try them again just because they are so healthy they can’t be that bad…and you know what I like them now! Yay! Will definitely be trying the aspara-dip though too, perfect for spring.
xx
That is one heck of a dog!
I just cannot get myself to like chia seeds. Blech!
Ahah omg, that dog is huge!
I don’t eat avocados and though I eat salmon sometimes I’m not the biggest fan.
Woah, that dog is huge! But I can see where the dad is coming from. My little ones have definitely gotten me to say yes to things I’d never have dreamed I’d say yes to!
I’m with your sister. I just don’t see what the fuss is about bananas! Everyone seems to love them but me
Katie, I have a giant Schnauzer! She looks just like the one in the photo! They really are the sweetest dogs
.
I love ketchup, but tomatoes are not my thing. Go figure.
Now that’s my kind of puppy!
Wow that is one big dog!
That’s how I feel about plain yogurt. I have to dress it up a LOT to eat it….it’s just not for me!
I used to be suuuuper picky when I was little, but somewhere along the line I not only got over it, but became really adventurous! I’ll try most anything these days (including a scorpion when I lived in China!). But funny enough, seafood is what I struggle with most these days. I know that certain varieties of fish and seafood, such as shrimp, can be a very healthy food, but I’m only recently working up to liking them. So far, so good–just don’t ask me to dismantle my own lobster!
That is one huge dog! Jeez!
I am that way with most foods I have “texture issues” ironically I <3 avocados…
Not as much as I love that dog though – so cute!
Do you think I could make your dip without the peas (I am allergic)
oooh katie i think that dog is adorable. but a little bit scary. it might crush me. or you! but cute though. xoxoxo
I used to hate olives but then magically one day I started to love them!!! Maybe that will happen to you too
wow that’s a huge pup! avocados are my favorite!
but a healthy food i just cant force myself to like, hmm, toughy!! but i’d say …okay this is hard, i just sat here for like 1 minute lol..and i cant think of anything!! it used to be prunes, but now i am a prune-addict ;P and at one time i actually didn’t care for(drum roll please)…oatmeal! <–yeah crazy how things change! my palette has adapted to liking most healthy foods!
have a great day Katie!
xx
maya
Diana,
Eww eww eww gross!
I was bitten by a scorpion when I was little. So even though it sounds gross, I (a vegan) fully support you eating the little devil hehe
.
todayslady,
I was that way with tomatoes and mushrooms and peppers. I still can’t believe I used to hate tomatoes!
I can’t eat anything from the sea. I know it’s weird but I always detect a briny/fishy taste no matter what I do!
Awww, what a cute doggie. My mom has an 80-lb great pyrenees and I thought she was big, lol!
Joy,
Sure! But the peas add a sweetness… maybe try subbing corn?
Haha love the dog! I bet it makes for a warm blanket in the wintertime
. Too bad you live in Texas and probably don’t need that!
Maya,
I didn’t hear that!!! lol!
I’m the same way with avocados! I mean, they’re not terrible…I’m sort of conditioning myself to like them cuz it’s a good way to get healthy fat in
That is a.HUGE.dog lol
thats the most enormous doggie i’ve ever seen! wow!
Don’t like avocados!!! Or olives! Whoa! That’s crazy talk. But the asparagus dip sounds delicious too.
The only vegetable I say I don’t like is fennel, but honestly, I’ve never tried it. I don’t like that licorice/anise flavor, so I figure I wouldn’t like fennel. And I once accidentally purchased some Tom’s of Maine Fennel toothpaste that made me gag. 
so many beautiful ladies in one post!
Gorgeous photo, as always, Katie.
I’ve never met a fruit or veggie I didn’t like. I guess I’m just lucky!
Mhm, dip looks yummy.
Hm. I like all veggies actually! Except potatoes, they are just so blah
Wow, what a gorgeous dog! And huge too!
The aspara-dip sounds great – a nice change from the usual dips. Sign me up.
Foods I don’t like that I know I should eat more of: nutritional yeast, tempeh, arame, and raw bananas. I can handle a little nutritional yeast if it is cooked into a sauce or something but even the smallest bit of tempeh or arame will make me gag. Raw bananas (plain) I can handle once in a while if I have to, but they are 1000% better as stuffed Banana Hammocks.
Wow! Now that’s what I call a dog!!
I can’t think of anything I just can’t stand to eat.. I’ve had a few gross packaged health foods, but I think that was just epic fail on their part rather than mine. I don’t like soggy, packaged peas. I always though I just hated peas, but once I had fresh out of a garden- YUM!
I am a card carrying ember of the “I hate kiwi” club!
*member*
That dog is beautiful! But she’s almost as big (or bigger?) as her owner!
I haven’t forgotten the chopstick challenge! I actually posted about it this morning.
your so pretty!!!!
As if I could not adore you more….
I HATE AVOCADOS, TOO!!!! I am the only person I know who cannot stand ANYTHING with avocado in it (yes, even guac)….something about the bland-but-not taste and and the funky texture…I dunno. I also hate papayas – they are like the fruit version of avocados. They both have that foot taste/smell to them.
The only vegetables I won’t eat are eggplant and fennel. I hate…no, despise the taste and smell of fennel. I just don’t like the texture of eggplant. Other than that, I don’t think there’s any “healthy” foods I don’t like.
That dog is ADORABLE!!! And I can’t do avocados, mushrooms, eggplant or bananas. I love most fruits and veggies, but some things…*shudder*. It’s usually about the texture than the taste, but mushrooms are definitely both.
So I am JAZZED to try this dip as it looks awesome. I LOVE asparagus!
Green peppers. Grooooooooooooooss!!!!
Avocados are yucky! I love olives and bananas though.
Have you tried chocolate avocado pudding? The avocadoes are used for their texture, not their taste.
I can think of alot of things I don’t like- i’m picky. I hate tahini and tempeh, eggs,(not vegan but hey, even the smell is horrendous!) cheesecake, potato chips (not healthy), cooked carrots, cabbage, sour kraut, anything cabbagey anything with artificial sugar.
The good news is i used to hate green beans, corn, zuccini, squash and sweet potatoes, and now I love them all!~
Glorious! Just picked up some fresh asparagus today!
I really can’t make myself like peas. I don’t mind them mixed into dips (ahem, AsparaDip), but on their own, I just can’t stomach them.
Katie,
I haven’t… but HEAB has a recipe for it that I’ve been meaning to try for so long!!
That sounds awesome! Personally I cannot STAND protein powder (!!!!) or raw veggies that aren’t smothered in hummus.
I also HATEHATEHATEHATE almond milk and rice milk! Oh well… that kind of works in my favor in the case of recovery.
Lucie
Such a cute dog!
I absolutely hate garlic, and I’m not a fan of eggplant.
I think the reason being with the garlic is because my Mom and sister are really allergic to it, so I never grew up with it. I can’t stand the after taste (or the taste for that matter) and the smell makes me queasy!
ughhh I have an irrational fear of those creepy black olives that most fast-food restaurants have these days. Those are hideous! Thing is, I friggin’ love REAL olives–black, green, pimeto-stuffed, kalamata…I love all of the darn things! Just not the gross ones
garlic, onions, olives, salt, strong pungent flavors and me are NOT friends
My “no thank you” list is: Onions, scallions, shallots, chives, leeks (i.e. anything that tastes like an onion), avocado, and raw tomato (I will eat them cooked).
Every food I dislike seems to eventually grow on me. Like potatoes, peppers, pears and apples… All fine now. I just like to re-try things sometimes, and after awhile I’ll like them. I’m not particularly fond on pomegranates or mustard greens, but I don’t avoid them either. I’m starting to dislike cabbage, but only because it was my obsession and I guess I over-did it until it’s just kind of gross.
confession – i’m gonna get kicked out of bloggerdom, but i HATE HATE HATE quinoa.
i know!
i’ve tried all the varieties (black, red, normal, etc). i’ve tried it sweet, i’ve tried it savory, by itself, in a salad, blended! with fruits, veggies, cheese, nutritional yeast… i just hate it.
there.
i said it.
Such a cute blog! Love it!
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