If you have guacamole on your mind, you’re probably thinking of all the different ways you can have it – as a dip with tortilla chips, a delicious dressing for that unappetizing salad or a dollop added to the filling of any wrap.
Guacamole is a traditional Mexican dip made with avocados as the key ingredient. Avocados make it rich in healthy vitamins, minerals, fats and dietary fiber.
A popular condiment, it is also used to enhance the flavor of many recipes. One can easily incorporate it into various recipes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Depending upon how you want to use it, you can make the texture smooth or chunky.
But the best thing about it is that it’s very easy to prepare. So, go ahead and flaunt your culinary skills this weekend for your friends or family!
Steps to Easily Make Delicious Guacamole Dip at Home
Things you’ll need:
- Ripe avocado – 1 large
- Yellow-skinned onion, finely chopped – ½ of a small onion
- Plum tomato, finely diced – 1 small
- Jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped – 1(optional)
- Chopped cilantro (or coriander)
- Minced garlic – 2 or 3 cloves
- Fresh-squeezed lemon juice – 1 lemon
- Table salt – 1 teaspoon
- Knife and cutting board for chopping ingredients
- Measuring teaspoon
- Mortar and pestle
- Bowl
- Mixing spoon
Step 1. Cut the avocado
Slice the avocado in half. You’ll see a fleshy pulp inside, which when mashed gives a creamy texture to your guacamole.
Step 2. Pit and scoop the avocado
Avocados have a large seed encased in the pulp, much like a mango. Take out the seed and remove any seed skin as well.
Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp of the fruit and put it into the mortar. Scooping out the pulp will be easier if the avocado is nicely ripened.
Step 3. Grind the pulp
Pound the pestle into the mortar until you have mashed the avocado into a creamy paste.
Step 4. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice
Spoon the entire mashed avocado into a bowl. Slice the lemon in half and squeeze all the juice into the bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Besides adding to the taste, the lemon juice will keep your guacamole from turning brown.
Step 5. Add chopped onions and diced tomatoes
Now add the chopped onions to the bowl.
After folding in the onions, add the diced tomato.
Step 6. Add garlic
Now gently fold the minced garlic into the mixture. It gives a strong flavor and adds depth to the taste of your guacamole.
Step 7. Add jalapenos
To make your guacamole a bit spicy, add a chopped and seeded jalapeno. You can put in more than one if you prefer it hot and spicy.
Step 8. Add chopped cilantro
Next, add the finely chopped cilantro for a fresh flavor.
Before putting in the salt, fold and mix the ingredients of the bowl thoroughly.
Step 9. Sprinkle in table salt
Next, add the table salt and again mix evenly.
After you are done, cover the guacamole and let it sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to blend. Otherwise, it might taste bland.
Step 10. Garnish and serve
Spoon your mouth-watering guacamole into a serving dish or plate. Garnish with a sprig of fresh cilantro. Serve with corn tortilla chips.
Additional Tips:
- You can use sweet basil instead of cilantro.
- Make sure your avocado is ripe and good quality.
- The texture of guacamole can be smooth or chunky depending on your taste. For a chunky texture, mash the avocado a bit less to leave some chunks of pulp.
- If your avocado is ripe, you can also mash the pulp using a fork or a potato-masher.