Guacamole, which originates from Mexico, is one of my favorite things to eat. I’ve passed my obsession on to my 3-year-old, who can finish a bowl of homemade guacamole all by himself. My favorite recipe aims to be as close as possible to authentic guacamole. It uses fresh ingredients (no dried spices!) and ripe avocados. I love this with homemade tortilla chips!
Key Ingredients
Avocados: Use ripe avocados for the best guacamole. To pick them, gently squeeze the avocado with the palm of your hand. If it yields a little when pressed, it’s ready to eat. You can also check under the stem. If the stem pulls away and the area underneath is green, you’ve found an avocado perfect for guacamole. Onion: When available, I use white onion to make guacamole, and I let them sit in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes before adding them. Just a few minutes in water takes away the raw bite of the onion. I often use this trick in our recipes, such as in this recipe for pico de gallo. Lime: Fresh lime is best for this recipe. I’ve used lemon in a pinch, but stick with lime for the most authentic flavor. Cilantro: I’m generous with fresh cilantro for this recipe. If you aren’t a fan, you can leave it out. Jalapeño: Adds heat. You can adjust how spicy your guacamole is by removing or leaving the seeds and white membrane inside the pepper. Watch the video to see me remove them. Tomato: This is optional, but I add it, as you can see from my photos. Tomato isn’t always included in authentic guacamole recipes, so it’s up to you if you want to add it.
How to Make Guacamole
You’ll need 5 minutes to make guacamole. Add the avocado flesh to a bowl. (I use a spoon to scoop it out of the peel.) Or, if you have one, add them to a molcajete y tejolote (mortar and pestle). Next, gently mash the avocado with a fork. I love it when guacamole has some texture, so keep it a little chunky. Now is a good time to add some lime juice, too. Now gently stir the remaining guacamole ingredients and season with salt. That’s the onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and tomato. Then, serve your homemade guacamole with tortilla chips or your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes (here’s how to make tortilla chips).
What to Serve with Guacamole
Besides tortilla chips, we love serving homemade guacamole next to other dips and salsas. Try fresh pico de gallo, this easy restaurant-style salsa, our roasted tomato salsa, and this amazing green salsa made with roasted tomatillos. Guacamole is excellent with pork tacos, these chile butter shrimp tacos, our vegetable tacos, or scooped on top of this easy taco soup. I also love it with red chicken enchiladas and on top of this easy black bean soup. 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/4 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped 1 small tomato, chopped, optional 1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped jalapeño pepper, with seeds and membrane removed, optional 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste 2Cut avocados in half lengthwise, remove the pit, scoop out the flesh, and add to a bowl. 3Use a fork to mash the avocado into a chunky dip. 4Stir in the drained and rinsed onions, lime juice, cilantro, tomato, and salt. If you are adding it, add the finely chopped jalapeño. 5Taste the guacamole and adjust with more salt or lime juice. 6Guacamole is best when eaten soon after making it, but to store it and prevent it from turning brown, press plastic wrap down onto the guacamole and refrigerate for up to two days.
