Emulsifier Free Basil-Avocado Cucumber Bites
These fresh, vibrant bites are the kind of appetizer that disappears from the platter before you've even finished arranging them. Cool cucumber rounds get topped with a silky, herb-forward spread made entirely from whole, recognizable ingredients — ripe avocado, fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, and a warm hint of turmeric and ginger. Because everything is blended from scratch in a food processor, there are no store-bought condiments or pre-made spreads to worry about, which means no hidden additives or emulsifying agents sneaking into your food. That matters more than people realize — commercial dips and spreads almost always rely on emulsifiers to hold their texture together, and this recipe achieves that same creamy consistency naturally through the avocado itself. A finishing drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a pinch of flaky sea salt takes the whole thing from simple to genuinely impressive. They're light, bright, and elegant enough for a dinner party but easy enough to throw together on a weeknight.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the bites
- 2 large english cucumbers
For the basil-avocado spread
- 2 ripe avocados, halved and pitted
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For serving
- fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)
- extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
- flaky sea salt, for finishing (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Slice the cucumbers into rounds about 1/2 inch thick, discarding the ends. Arrange the rounds in a single layer on a serving platter.
- 2
Scoop the avocado flesh into a food processor. Add the basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, turmeric, and ginger. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides once, about 30–45 seconds.
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