Guacamole

Guacamole is an appetizer that makes everyone happy, a rich and creamy dip with notes of fresh lemon or lime juice, onions, garlic and cilantro. Nothing is more inviting and satisfying to dip a crunchy, salty tortilla chip into than guacamole. Homemade guacamole is infinitely better than store bought. Here's my favorite way to make it.

Avocados are one of the only foods I can think of that taste rich and buttery and are highly nutritious. They're packed with lots of vitamins and fiber, and are high in healthy monounsaturated fat, which is know to help prevent heart disease. No wonder Avocados are insanely popular.

Avocado Fun Facts

• Avocados don't look or taste like the typical fruit, but they are fruit and they grow on trees.
• The avocado tree originated in southern Mexico, where the invention of guacamole, by the Aztecs, has been traced to the early 16th century. (Though I'm not sure they could have enjoyed it as much as we do now, since they didn't have tortilla chips or Margaritas back then)  
• Mexico is where it all started and Mexico is still, by far, the world leader in avocado production, yielding more than 1 million metric tons of the fruit per year according to the Food and Drug Agriculture Association.
• The USA is among the top ten avocado producing countries with a yield of about 200,000 metric tons per year.

How To Store Avocados

• Due to the fact that avocados ripen after they're harvested, you'll often find rock hard avocados at the store that have a ways to go before they're ready to be eaten. Store underripe avocados out of the fridge and they will ripen over time.
• I prefer to buy perfectly ripe avocados. I shop for them a day or two ahead of when I'm planning to use them. If you store ripe avocados in the fridge, they will keep for several days without getting overripe.
• An avocado is perfectly ripe when it's pretty firm but has a little give when you press on it with your thumb.  
• Don't buy avocados if they're mushy or have any indents because they're probably past their prime.  

How To Cut Avocados for Guacamole

• Start by slicing the avocado in half lengthwise. Hold it in both hand, twisting until you can pull it apart. You'll notice the pit will be stuck to one of the halves.
• To remove the avocado pit, gently hack your knife into the pit so it sticks. Twist the knife gently until the pit is loosened and you can pull it out, still attached to the knife.

Score the flesh of each avocado half with a knife. That makes it easy to scoop out all the flesh with a large spoon. Plus the flesh is already cubed, making it easier to mash.

How To Make The Best Guacamole

This is my all time favorite guacamole recipe. It has just 5 ingredients:

• haas avocados
• tomatoes
• white onions
• garlic
• cilantro

Do You Like your Guacamole Creamy or Chunky?

Texture is key: I love my guacamole fairly creamy but with some texture. Perhaps you like your guacamole super creamy or very chunky? It's all a matter of taste. Start with cubes of avocado in a bowl and mash them to your desired consistency using a fork or a potato masher.

Lemon Juice or Lime Juice for Guacamole?

Adding lemon or lime juice to guacamole has two purposes. The bright citrus flavors are a wonderful counterpart to the rich creaminess of the avocados. Also, citrus juice helps prevent the avocados from turning brown and preserves their beautiful green color.

Choose whichever citrus juice you prefer. Lime juice will juice your guac a more Mexican flavor while lemon juice will give it brighter and lighter flavor.

Guacamole Add-Ins

• I adore fresh chopped tomatoes, white onions, garlic and cilantro in my guacamole. It's like adding a few spoonfuls of fresh salsa right in with the mashed avocados. So flavorful and delicious.
• If tomatoes aren't in season or if you want a shortcut that works really well, substitute a few spoonfuls of your favorite store-bought salsa in place of the fresh ingredients. 

What To Serve With Guacamole

Craving some delicious dishes to pair with this creamy guacamole? Here are a few of my absolute favorites:

• For Dipping: Skip the store-bought chips and try these Patacones (Fried Green Plantains) or my crisp Homemade Seed Crackers.
• The Main Event: Guacamole is the perfect topper for Chicken Enchiladas Verdes or a big, comforting bowl of Eddie's Award-Winning Chili (Con Carne) or our Award Winning White Chicken Chili.
• To Sip: We suggest these Frozen Grapefruit Margaritas - a perfect pairing with guac and chips.

If you're wondering where I got the fun tiered chip and dip server, it was a hostess gift from my friend Sheryl who tipped me off that she found it at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  

If you try this Guacamole recipe, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think!

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[This post first appeared on Panning The Globe in July 2013. It was updated in May 2019 with added nutritional information, fun facts about avocados, and tips]