Guacamole

Did you know that along with Salsa, Guacamole is the most popular dip in America? It’s not hard to see why, this Mexican inspired dip is loaded with flavor, it’s fresh, easy to make, and healthy too! The thing is that stuff you buy in jars at the supermarket just doesn’t compare, it doesn’t taste nearly as delicious and is full of unnecessary added ingredients. Seriously homemade guacamole is on a whole other level!

Serve it up with some tortilla chips and a Margarita and you’ve got yourself the best Mexican appetizer you could ask for. My recipe is super simple, uses fresh ingredients, and can be whipped up in about 5 minutes. See my step by step recipe below including my favorite ways to use it and how to adapt the flavor!

What you need to make this recipe

Avocados – they must be ripe for the best flavor and texture. Lightly press the top of the avocados and if they are soft they are ready, firm and they aren’t ripe enough.

Red onion – I like to use red onion because it’s milder and not as strong as white or brown onions but feel free you use what you prefer. You can also use shallots.

Garlic – this is an essential ingredient for me, it adds so much flavor! Make sure you use fresh garlic cloves, ground garlic or garlic powder won’t give you the same results here.

Tomatoes – tomatoes are added to traditional and authentic guacamole recipes they add freshness and sweetness plus I love that pop of color. Make sure to buy Roma, plum, or San Marzano tomatoes (I use Roma) because they have less juice and seeds.

Cilantro – cilantro or coriander is used in a lot of Mexican recipes and guacamole is no exception, if you don’t like it then you can skip it. Make sure to use fresh cilantro!

Jalapenos – you can easily adjust the amount of chili to taste, it should have a mellow heat level and not be overly hot.

Limes – fresh lime juice is a must it really brightens up the flavors, don’t use bottled stuff!

Salt – use sea salt to enhance all the flavors.

How to make Guacamole

1. Finely chop the cilantro, jalapeno, and tomatoes and set it aside.

2. Finely chop the red onion and add it to a large mixing bowl with the minced garlic and lime juice.

3. Next cut the avocados in half, remove the stone, and spoon out the avocado flesh.

4. Add it to the onion and lime juice and mash it with a fork until you reach the desired consistency.

5. Next add the finely chopped cilantro, jalapeno, and tomatoes with a pinch of sea salt.

6. Mix everything together until combined.

Pro tips for making this recipe

• Fresh and good quality ingredients will make the best tasting guacamole, make sure your avocados and tomatoes are ripe and all other ingredients are good quality.
• To cut an avocado safely, cut it in half then remove the stone by gently tapping a sharp knife on top of the stone so it’s embedded, twist the knife to dislodge the stone, and remove it from the flesh. The avocado should be ripe enough to scoop the flesh out with a spoon into a bowl.
• You can use a fork or potato masher to mash the avocados to the consistency you like (chunky or smooth).
• Make sure to finely mince the garlic you don’t want to come across any big chunks.
• Taste your guacamole as you go, add salt, extra lime garlic jalapeño, etc at the end if needed.
• If your avocados are on the small side and you don’t seem to have enough you can add a little sour cream to bulk it out.
• Marinating the onions and garlic with the lime juice as you work on the rest of the recipe takes the bite out and imparts a great more mellow flavor. You can reserve some of the marinated onion and add it back in at the end to taste if you’re not the biggest fan.
• You can use this guacamole recipe to fill Deviled Eggs, it’s so delicious!
• Additions – you can mix up the flavors by adding in creamy hummus or spices such as cayenne pepper, cumin, or paprika.
• You can easily double or even triple this recipe to serve more people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is guacamole good for you?

Yes, guacamole is packed full of goodness including heart-healthy fats, immune-boosting garlic, and healthy vegetables. When it comes to dips it’s one of the healthiest you can eat.

What’s the best way to serve it?

This guacamole can be used in an endless amount of ways from Avocado Toast for breakfast to on top of Nachos, in Quesadillas, Enchiladas, Fajitas, Tacos, or simply served with a pile of tortilla chips and some homemade salsa for dipping.

How do I ripen avocados quickly?

Finding a ripe avocado can be a little tricky sometimes so to speed things up you can place your unripe avocados in a brown paper bag with some ripe bananas and close up the bag. The gases from the bananas will help ripen the avocados in no time!

How do I stop it from browning?

The acid in the lime juice will keep your guacamole nice and green. Spritz a little extra on top and then cover with plastic wrap directly on top of the dip if storing for a while. The avocado turns brown as it oxidizes from contact with air so sealing it with plastic with no air in between will definitely slow the process down.

How long does it last?

If you have leftovers or are preparing it in advance spritz over a little extra lime juice and place plastic wrap directly over the surface of the guacamole. It should keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Can I freeze it?

If you want to freeze your guacamole then I recommend doing so without adding the additional ingredients (onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and tomatoes). All ingredients don’t freeze well together but the avocados with lime juice freeze beautifully which is great if you have ripe avocados that need using up. Once thawed you can add in the extra ingredients to taste and serve.

If you’ve tried this guacamole recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!