Chilled Avocado Soup

Ingredients:
3 ripe avocados
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1/3 cup raw walnut halves/quarters
1/3 cup fresh chopped dill sprigs (not the dried stuff!)
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon seas salt

Directions:
1. Scoop 2 avocados into a food processor and add the buttermilk, 1 cup water, walnuts, dill, red onion, red wine vinegar, and salt.

2. Pulse process and puree until smooth and you can see lil purple, green, and nutty specs

3. Refrigerate until well chilled. (try putting wet bowls in the freezer too!). If you plan on storing for a while add lemon or lime juice to prevent the avocado from browning (oxidizing) too quickly.

4. To garnish slice the remaining avocado and place chunks on top of soup and add a dill sprig.

I added slices of garlic Naan bread to the bowls.

Serves 4.

So what's in it for you?
Avocados, in addition to being a good source of fiber (keeps you regular), potassium (one of the MOST important minerals, look it up it has a hand in too many vital processes to list here), vitamins E (power anti oxidant and fabulous skin) and vitamin B (B is for brain and nerve power), and folic acid (growth and reproduction). If you've heard that avocados are high in fat this is true...they are high in GOOD FAT! Monosaturated is the "good fat" unlike LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and trglycerides (a.k.a heart disease central). Avocados help the body lower LDL and triglycerides while increasing HDL (high-density lipoprotein, "good fat"), which tends to lower the risk for heart disease.

DECREASING (LDL + TRIGLYCERIDES) + INCREASING IN HDL = HEART HEALTHY <3>

Avos (which are fruits not veggies!) are also rich in beta-sitoserol, a natural substance that helps lower blood levels of cholesterol and has been used for boosting the immune system, fighting the common cold, decreasing symptoms of menopause, treating enlarged prostrates, and also for enhancing sexual activity. Runners sometimes use beta-sitoserol to reduce pain and swelling after a run.

Why walnuts? WHY NOT? Walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids. This fatty acid is ESSENTIAL to human life but the body can't make it by itself! Bodily conundrum? Maybe. But it's an excuse to eat walnuts and salmon! This n-3 oil combats high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and, my favorite, helps boost your brain! Omega-3 fatty acids can improve memory, cognitive function, slow senility, and help boost the areas of your brain that govern your mood. How? n-3 fatty acids promote neuronal growth and health. In fact, low levels of n-3 fatty acids in the prefrontal cortex of the brain have been shown to lower certain neurotransmitter activity (not a good thing). Abnormal neurotransmitter activity gives rise to depression and other mood disorders.

Happy neurons. Happy brain. :D

Earth friendly tips:

Per usual, I used organic ingredients for this recipe. However, I did have to buy California avocados (far from Boston). But not to fret for avocados positively impact the environment. The California avocado tree orchards remove 25-88 lbs of dry nitrogen pollutant/acre from the environment. These trees also stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and reduce storm run-off, all of which can improve local water quality. Oh, and like all trees, these trees provide shelter for wildlife, lower air temperature by evaporating water from the leaves, and breath in the carbon dioxide so we don't have to and provide us with 02.

What I'll try next time?

This chilled soup, although very refreshing, came across to me as more of a dip. In fact, me and my roommates busted out more pita chips and Naan bread to dip. OR I just don't think I can eat a lot of it like I do chicken noodle or tomato bisque. I recommend pulse chopping it into a chunkier dip and perhaps leaving the water out in that case. Or serve in small or shallow bowl plate on the side of another summer meal or sandwich.

Summer tip: add avocados to ice cream! Brazilians do!

Links:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3138/2
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1844/2
Read more at Wholeliving.com: Chilled Avocado Soup