Ripe avocados stuffed with a vegan mediterranean-spiced quinoa, lentil and vegetable mixture tossed in sumac dressing makes a unique weeknight dinner in under 30 minutes. Drizzled with easy, creamy tahini dressing, this is a regular in our dinner rotation! It’s also meal-prep friendly and suitable for vegan, gluten free and nut free diets.
As summer (sadly) comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about easy, 30-minute or less recipes. These vegan stuffed avocados with a delicious sumac tahini dressing are suitable for your busy back-to-school/work schedule, and each component can be prepped ahead of time!
We love stuffed avocados for their versatility. It also doesn’t hurt to get an extra serving of healthy monounsaturated fat, and who doesn’t love a perfectly ripe avocado? (Note: if you aren’t an avocado fan, the filling is delicious on its own!)
We’ve been incredibly busy during the week as we head towards the holiday season. I know, it seems early, but in the food/editorial world, there’s A LOT to be done to prep for holiday content. We also have extensive travel plans in October, so we’re doubling down on work and very much in need of easy recipes like this one.
We’re guessing many of you are in the same boat, so here’s a quick breakdown on how to get this on the dinner table ASAP!
What is sumac?
The mediterranean flavors in these delightful vegan stuffed avocados come from our savory sumac dressing. Sumac is a bright red Middle Eastern spice. It comes from–you guessed it–the sumac plant. The red berries from the sumac spice bush are dried and ground into a fine powder.
While it can be tricky to find sumac at smaller grocery stores, specialty markets are likely to carry it. Especially Middle Eastern markets. Of course, online is always a safe bet!
How to use sumac
Sumac is popular as a flavor enhancer for all kinds of dishes. Don’t be fooled by its red color; the powder is not very spicy. Rather, it’s bright and has a lemony flavor profile. Sumac brightens up vegetables, salads, proteins, hummus, the list goes on. It’s especially great to have on hand in the summer. You can pretty safely sprinkle sumac on anything going on the grill.
It’s also a key ingredient in another of our current favorite spice blends: za’atar. While za’atar may contain a wide range of different flavors and spices, sumac is a pretty regular inclusion. We love za’atar on crispy roasted chickpeas. They make for a perfect back-to-school (or work) snack!
Best recipes to spice up with sumac
Here are some ideas beyond mediterranean stuffed avocados for spicing up your weeknight eating with sumac:
- Add a pinch to this Roasted Romanesco Hummus for a twist
- Sprinkle this Summer Quinoa Tabbouleh with sumac
- This vegan Fattoush Salad from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen is a classic and fresh use for sumac
How to make vegan stuffed avocados
We all know avocados are the star of toasts, dips, salads, breakfast sandwiches, and much, much more. But leave them (mostly) whole, and they also make excellent vehicles for all kinds of fillings, vegan and meat-based.
Our first foray into vegan stuffed avocado territory were these fun taco stuffed avocados. That got us thinking about all the options to fill our favorite healthy fat-laden fruits. Quinoa and lentils are two of our go-to vegan protein sources. They absorb different flavors and mix well into all the veggies we want to be eating.
We flavored our avocado filling with fresh chopped tomatoes, yellow peppers and cucumbers for crunch. The savory mediterranean flavors come from the two dressings we couldn’t resist adding to these avocados.
First, sumac dressing. It’s just like a simple vinaigrette, with olive oil, lemon juice and extra herbs. In addition to sumac, we added oregano and marjoram. You can use just about any herbs you have on hand, although I must say oregano is my all-time favorite. Thyme would work well, too!
How to make super simple vegan tahini dressing
Second, and the final step in this easy weeknight meal, is a super fast vegan tahini dressing. Drizzle the tahini dressing over your Mediterranean stuffed avocados just before serving. You can easily prep it ahead of time and store in a separate container.
This dressing is incredibly simple – just tahini, olive oil, lemon, a sweetener (we use agave), and a bit of salt and pepper. Whisk everything together, then add in a bit of water to thin it out.
With 30 seconds of effort, you’ll have the perfect creamy vegan tahini dressing! I use it on everything from roasted vegetables, to kale salads, and even by the spoonful. (Yep, it’s that good!) We swear by this tahini from Soom Foods. (affiliate link) It’s truly the best!
More Back-To-School Recipes (vegan + GF)
- Vegan Burrito Bowls – a back-pocket recipe that the whole family can agree on. Easy to customize and prep!
- Vegan Asian Lettuce Wraps – super flavorful, surprisingly easy. Served with a delicious peanut sauce.
- Creamy Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta – an easy alternative to mac & cheese!
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Avocados stuffed with vegan mediterranean-spiced quinoa, lentils & vegetables tossed in sumac dressing makes for a unique weeknight dinner in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For Sumac Dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground sumac
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp marjoram
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Simple Tahini Dressing:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp agave
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- A few cracks of pepper
- 2 tbsp water (use more as needed to thin out)
Mediterranean Stuffed Avocados:
- 1/2 cup cooked lentils (about 1/4 cup dry, cooked according to package directions)
- 1/2 cup quinoa (about 1/4 cup dry, cooked according to package directions)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup baby cucumbers, diced
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup yellow pepper, diced
- 3 tbsp scallions, finely diced
- 6 large avocados, halved
Instructions
- Cook quinoa and lentils according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, to make the sumac dressing, whisk all the ingredients together or shake in a covered jar.
- To make the tahini dressing, whisk all the ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
- For the avocado filling, combine all of the ingredients, except avocados, in a bowl. Add sumac dressing and toss to coat evenly.
- Slice avocados in half and scoop out a little bit of the flesh to make room for more filling. Fill the avocado boats with lentil and quinoa mixture and drizzle tahini dressing over the top.
Notes
If tahini dressing is too thick (not pourable), add more water, 1 tbsp at a time until you reach desired consistency.
Keywords: vegan stuffed avocados
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The dressing sounds superb! I’ve never had stuffed avocados before but I love this idea. They look delicious!
★★★★★
I just picked up a jar of Tahini and have been wondering what I can make with it. Now that I have this great recipe, I’m set!
Wow, these look amazing. Mediterranean flavors with avocado and the tahini dressing just sounds marvelous.
★★★★★
I have an unhealthy obsession with avocados haha so this recipe is right up my alley!
★★★★★