Veggie lovers and vegans pay attention! These grilled avocados are perhaps my favorite grilled vegetable. They have absolutely everything going for them: smokey, salty, crispy, warm, gooey, spicy, tart, and rich. Totally amazing! Plus, they are super simple to make. Interested? Read on for the how-to. Sadly I cannot take credit for this creation, that credit is for Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby from their book Let the Flames Begin. There was a stretch during the summer of 2004 where I made these flavor-packed badboys every other week, pairing them with steaks, grilled chicken, ribs, wings, salmon, and even a simple side salad. Their taste still brings back memories of a Red Sox world series win... but I digress. Here's the low-down:

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado
• Juice from 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced chipotle peppers in adobo
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Process:

• Combine the lime juice, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, chipotle peppers, red onion, cilantro, and orange juice in a small bowl
• Wisk well to combine, and let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hrs
• Prepare your grill for medium-high heat
• Meanwhile slice an avocado in half and remove the pit
• Coat the flesh sides of each avocado half with the remaining olive oil
• Sprinkle the avocado flesh liberally with salt and pepper
• Once the grill is heated to medium-high, scrape it clean and oil the grates
• Place the avocados on the grill, flesh side down, and grill for 3-4 minutes or until the flesh shows solid grill marks and are golden brown in between
• Remove the avacodos to a plate, fill the cavities with 2-3 tablespoons of the chipotle-onion mixture, and enjoy

Tonight I served these with a cumin seed crusted rib eye steak and a black bean salad... but they can go with a multitude of main dishes. You'd benefit from other powerful flavors because the chipotle/lime/onion flavors are very strong. That said, the richness and fruitiness of the avocado stands out remarkably well. Give it a shot this weekend... I think you'll be pleased.