When you're trying to eat healthier, it's easy to fall into a rut. If you can branch out a little and pair foods that you might not have thought about using together, some surprising and tasty dishes can result. Few recipes call for baking avocado, but once you try it for yourself, you'll see the virtue of including it with chicken in a savory entrée.

About Avocados

Most people only know avocados as a prime ingredient in guacamole, but there's a lot more to this exotic fruit. Avocados are a prime source of almost 20 different minerals and vitamins that do great things for your body. Among the nutrients in this healthy fruit are B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, and lutein. Avocados also have a lot of fiber and the good fat, monounsaturated fat, which helps your body to get rid of bad cholesterol.

Storing Avocados

When you bring them home from the store, avocados may not be quite ripe yet. The best way to tell ripeness is to hold the fruit in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze. The fruit should have a little bit of give without being soft. Unripened avocados can stay on the counter at room temperature. Once they're ripe, store avocados in the refrigerator for up to three days. Cut avocados brown quickly due to oxidation. Slow this process by sprinkling cut avocado with lemon juice and then wrapping tightly with plastic wrap.

Avocado Stuffed Chicken Recipe

With all of the benefits of avocado, the fruit pairs well with lean proteins, like chicken. To make avocado stuffed chicken, first pound out 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts until the meat is thin. Peel, pit, and slice two avocados and reserve the slices from 1/2 avocado. Sprinkle the reserved slices with a tablespoon of lemon juice.

To the rest of the avocado, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/2 cup onion. Mash the ingredients together and place a small amount in the center of each flattened chicken breast. Roll up the chicken and secure each breast with a toothpick.

Bake the chicken in a preheated oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the chicken from the oven and garnish each piece with a bit of the reserved avocado slices.

If you're ready to try other dishes with avocado, be sure to look for recipes from an expert. You can eliminate a lot of trial and error while adding new family favorites to your recipe box.