Smashed Avocado Bites with Pancetta & Spicy Olive Oil + GIVEAWAY
Hi Friends!
How was your week? What did you do? Are you as excited as me that it’s Friday?!
Because I for one am STOKED that it’s the freakin’ weekend, R-Kelly style.
First, we’ve got this delicious little appetizer that’s all sorts of Spring-y and all sorts of easy and 100% gotta have it. And then we have a giveaway!!! because free stuff is a universal pleasure.
Let’s do this!
One of the things I love about blogging is getting to make internet friends with peeps who understand that biting your own finger from eating too fast is completely normal. Among them are Katie from Healthy Seasonal Recipes, who was cool enough to put together this amaaazing multi-blogger giveaway that I totally wish I could enter myself. It’s one mega major Spring Entertaining PALOOZA, and I’m beyond thrilled I finally have a legit reason to use that word.
Here’s what we’re looking at:
I KNOW. Could you die? Everything you need for successful Spring Entertaining, all free and delivered right to your doorstep! So follow the steps above and get entered – Al fresco dining is calling your name!
So now that I just crushed your Friday with some faboosh freebies, let’s get to the food.
Apparently I’m in a let’s-put-green-stuff-on-bread kinda phase, but grass is green and Spring is here! and I’m just being seasonal, okay? Because one bite of these little delights and you will get that this baby wins. Wins at Friday. Wins at life. Wins at being the Spring-iest Spring appetizer in all of America because hello! Doesn’t it look like a flower is sprouting under a bed of avocado & pancetta? I tots planned that.
In a world where you’re getting married in six months, have a full-time job, do this blogging thing, may or may not drink too much, and cry yourself to sleep looking at wheels of brie on Pinterest, easy recipes become a necessity. So I made sure that this Spring Entertaining nosh was ridiculously simple, yet still brought fabulous presentation.
I have to pat myself on the back and say I cooked this pancetta so perfectly, it almost looks like ahi tuna, right? The secret is cooking it sloowly, allowing it to get crisp, pink, and juicy. The smashed avocado is what it is – A little bit chunky, a little bit smooth, dashed with lemon juice, and seasoned with a sprinkling of black pepper. And to bring it all together? That spicy EVOO, which gives just enough heat to make this baby POP. Like, I had barely put down my camera before Dave inhaled six of these. Six! I think he actually snarled when I started eating some for myself.
But I guess I can’t blame him, really. They are bite-size (and dangerous) for a reason.
And last but not least! Share the love and go check out all the other chill bloggers making this giveaway a partaaaay 😉
Healthy Seasonal Recipes * Adventures in Cooking * Southern Boy Dishes
Shared Appetite * Yankee Kitchen Ninja * Mountain Mama Cooks
Nutmeg Nanny * A Brown Table * The Lemon Bowl * Bakeaholic Mama

Smashed Avocado Bites with Pancetta & Spicy Olive Oil
Ingredients:
- 24 Round Crackers {any kind}
- 2 Medium Avocados
- 6 oz Cubed Pancetta (I used Citterio)
- 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tbsps Lemon Juice
- 2 tbsps Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tsp Coarse Black Peppercorn – approx.
- Oregano to garnish
- Cooking Spray to grease
Directions:
- In lightly greased skillet brown pancetta over medium heat until just beginning to crisp, ~10 minutes. Remove from flame and transfer to paper towel lined bowl to cool.
- While pancetta cooks, in food processor combine avocados and lemon juice, pulsing several times into a half smooth/half chunky spread. Set aside.
- In small bowl combine EVOO and red pepper flakes. Microwave for 30 seconds, then whisk vigorously until an orange-colored oil is achieved. Drain of red pepper flakes, then set aside.
- When ready to assemble, coat each cracker with a thick layer of avocado, then sprinkle with black pepper. Lastly top each bite with pancetta, then drizzle with spicy EVOO and garnish with oregano. Immediately plate and serve.
>> 2 bites = 1 serving
so in love with this.
Now this is my kind of appetizer! I can see myself sitting down with a plate of these and calling it dinner. Your pancetta looks perfect! I definitely thought it was ahi tuna at first. I’m going to have to try your method of cooking low and slow next time.
honestly every other time I’ve cooked pancetta it’s never looked this good! it just so happened I wasn’t really paying attention to how hot I was cooking it, so when I saw the results I realized it was just one of those happy accidents that worked! thanks Nat, happy weekend xx
I laughed out loud (yes I fully had to spell it out for emphasis) while reading this post Christine 🙂 You are awesome. These apps are awesome. I totally agree that meeting peeps like you is one of the best parts of being a blogger. Thank you so much for getting in on this giveaway action!
yay, I love hearing when people enjoy my writing! thank YOU for putting this awesome giveaway together, it has totally taken off! so happy to make new connections in this awesome community of ours 🙂
The perfect bite!!! Love the avocado and pancetta!
thanks Nicole!
These look great! I’m totally with you, the easier the better! Plus girl we are all soooooo busy! How are the wedding plans?
uhh I know right, we are all so busy!! at least we get little noshes like these along the way 🙂 and you are so sweet to ask! it’s going, I guess lol. I’m being a mostly laid back bride, so I fingers crossed everything will turn out alright! xx
AY YI YI!!! I am so into these, it’s not even funny. Happy to have discovered you through this giveaway!
thanks Jules!! keep stopping by 🙂
YES THANKS GOD IT’S FRIDAY AND NOT ONLY FRIDAY BUT THE BEGGINNING OF MY SPRING BREAK TOO <<<— caps because I'm really excited in case you couldn't tell. Also, these avocado bites make me want to jump with joy too and hey, I would but I'm being so alzy lately idk. Seriously, that pancetta bits. Mmm yes heaven. I want them. I mean, I need them.
Yessssssssssss. Happy Friday hun xxx
loving your enthusiasm chica, I can tell you are on a school break high!! enjoy the time off & defff make these as a reward lol
I love the flavors in this!! So glad to do this giveaway with you!
thanks Liz! keep on coming by! xx
Such a great looking app Christine! I totally didn’t think that was pancetta at first!! No wonder why your guy downed like 6 of these bad boys within seconds… they look amazing!
In order to make these though, I would have to do some serious stealth hiding of avocados. Anytime I bring them in the house, my wife sniffs them out and eats them on me. Haha, she’s obsessed.
haha I know right, I couldn’t really fault him either! and I think at this point, all women are crazed about avocados, so I don’t blame your wife one bit – I do the same!
These look fantastic!! I couldn’t agree with you more that easy recipes are a LIFE SAVER. And that it’s Friday – this week was a doozy (big presentation, observation/evaluation of the class I’m teaching by the director of grad studies, papers to write, papers to grade…oy!), and these smashed avocado bites look like the PERFECT reward for getting through it!
sounds like you’ve had your hand full girrrrl! thanks for taking the time to stop in anyway 🙂
This appetizer looks sooooo good!! I can not wait to try it!! And I love the items y’all are giving away!! 🙂
thanks Coco, def give it a try! xx
Yay! What a fun giveaway – thanks for being a part of it! And such fun things – I love when giveaways are so unique. Okay and gorgeous appetizer. I can never get enough avocado! Love that you made them spicy 🙂
thanks Chelsea! and def enter the giveaway, I really want to myself!
Okay, smashed avocado + pancetta sounds like SUCH a heavenly combination, I can’t even. I think if I were at a function and these babies were being passed around, I’d follow the tray all night!
I’m so with you Alyssa! haha thanks girrrl 🙂
Such a great combination of ingredients, Christine! Anything with avocado gets my vote and when you add pancetta…yum! Great post and I’m so glad Katie brought us all together. Now we have some new foodie friends! Have a great weekend!
I know right? pancetta is everything! so happy you stopped by Bill!
These bites look so delicious! I love avocado and will def be trying this soon!
thanks Layla!
Oh this is yummy, lady! Another great way to elevate my avocado toast game 😉
thanks Ash!
I just found your blog and what do I see? This sensational app. Making this soon!
that’s great Norma!! I hope you keep coming back 🙂
I hear you on the easy recipes, with so much going on easy recipes are definitely needed! I’m loving these avocado bites topped with pancetta, so perfect! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
thanks Ashley!
So pretty Christine! I’d gobble these up and quick!
Have a beautiful day!
thanks Mel!
These look phenomenal!
thanks Rachel!
Wowza. This looks so good!
thanks girrrl!
Its the perfect representation of spring! smashed avocados is definitely one of my favs. I totally thought it was tuna in the beginning the photography is amazing!!! Great post Christine!