Chocolate is well-known for its healthy attributes, but brownies sound like an indulgence too far for a healthy lifestyle. These little beauties use ripe avocado instead of butter, replacing a large proportion of the saturated fat with healthier mono-unsaturated fat. And fear not….your brownies won’t develop a green tinge!
Cocoa beans contain approximately 50% fat and, with coconut, is one of the few non-animal sources of saturated fats. Although high in carbohydrate content, this is mainly made up of starch and fiber; however a large amount of sugar is added in the chocolate making process. These dietary no-no’s – saturated fat and high sugar – have long overshadowed the health benefits that the cocoa bean possesses, such as the beneficial effect of cocoa on blood pressure and insulin resistance or the possible benefits to brain function in older people. Even cocoa’s ability to enhance our mood has been studied and demonstrated.
Cocoa powder, especially the bitter European varieties has the least amount of (added) fats and sugar, followed by unsweetened dark chocolate. Choose your ingredients with care and consume in moderation…but chocolate deserves to be included in your life!
It would be impossible to make a single brownie; this recipe yields 6 servings and the nutritional data represents a single serving. 30minutes

Chocolate, avocado and pistachio brownies
Ingredients
- 100 gr. dark chocolate 70-85%
- 100 gr. ripe avocados
- 125 gr. Sugar
- A few drops of lemon juice
- 2 medium eggs beaten
- 45 gr. all-purpose flour
- 30 gr. cocoa powder
- 100 gr. pistachio nuts roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C and line a small square baking tin with baking paper.
- Break the chocolate in small chunks into a microwave bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50% power for 2 minutes, stir it and leave to cool slightly.
- In a larger bowl, mix the ripe avocado, sugar and a few drops of lemon juice. Using a mixer, slowly incorporate the beaten egg.
- Keep mixing until you have a smooth mixture, then add the melted chocolate.
- Sieve the flour and cocoa powder over the mixture and mix it well with a large spoon.
- Finally mix in the chopped pistachios and pour the mixture into the baking tin.
- Place in the center of the oven and cook for approximately 30-40 minutes or until a skewer comes out dry.
- Cut into 6 squares and try not to eat them all at once!