Name: Bagels with Smoked Salmon and Herbed Avocado Spread
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 Ripe California Avocado, seeded, peeled, sliced and at room temperature; 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; Kosher salt; 1 1/2 tablespoons finely sliced chives; 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped dill; Freshly ground black pepper; Plain and/or everything bagels, cut in half and toasted; Smoked salmon (or lox); Thinly sliced red onion; Capers; Fresh dill; Lemon wedges

Did you know that there are around 87 million pounds of avocados purchased for Cinco de Mayo celebrations here in the US? Crazy, right?!

Well given that we’re going to be in an avo frenzy over the next week, I thought I’d take a moment and share a recent project I’ve been having a lot of fun with! For the past few months, I’ve been developing recipes for the California Avocado Commission’s blog, The Scoop, and it’s been quite the tasty adventure. I’ve always been a big fan of avocados, but this recent project has really pushed me to use them in creative ways. For example: Bagels with Smoked Salmon and Herbed Avocado Spread. Ripe, creamy California Avocados are blitzed with lemon juice, cream cheese, chives, dill and black pepper until smooth. The finished spread is fresh, tangy and perfect on a toasted everything bagel. Blushing slices of smoked salmon are draped on top of the bagel, then adorned with traditional accompaniments like red onion and capers. Make this dish for a special brunch celebration or on any morning you just want to treat yourself. I’ve got a link to the recipe below!

Oh, and if you’re looking for tasty ways to use avocados for Cinco de Mayo, check out these recipes: Green Goddess Guacamole, Bacon and Tomato Guacamole, Roasted Fennel and Apple Guacamole.