This easy, fresh, homemade guacamole will be a hit at any party! Or enjoy it at home with all of your favorite Mexican dishes. Made in minutes with just a few simple, fresh ingredients.
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Walking over to a table filled with delectable finger foods, the minute I spy the guacamole, I grab a plate, snatch a handful of tortilla chips, plant a generous scoop of that guac, and settle down to savor the rich flavor of that green cream. I love it so much, I have to pace myself not to make it a meal by itself.
I used to buy pre-made guacamole and enjoyed it, but it never had the addicting appeal that fresh, homemade guacamole has. Eventually, I began making my own from scratch.
After trying many different recipes, I started to experiment with ingredients, changing quantities and seasonings, trying not to stray too far from the “traditional” guacamole essence. I have to admit, I love garlic and sweet onion, and have ample amounts of both in this recipe.
I eventually came up with a really delicious version that is down right addicting!
What is guacamole?
In its simplest form, guacamole is just mashed avocado and some salt. The Nahuati word Ahuacamolli means avocado sauce and is where the word guacamole comes from. The Aztecs first utilized it to add needed fat and protein into their diet, and also thought it an aphrodisiac which made it all the more popular.
When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, they fell in love with this local treat and went to great lengths to bring it back to Europe. Guacamole did make a lasting impact and today is a very popular snack food, especially during the Superbowl!
Are avocados healthy?
Avocados are a great source of fat in a whole food plant based diet. In addition to the healthy fats, avocados are high in vitamins B6, C, and E, as well as potassium and folate. They are also loaded with fiber and antioxidants.
According to WebMD, These nutrients are beneficial in preventing disease and illness such as cancer, high blood pressure, inflammation, arthritis, depression and heart disease.
While avocados are high in calories, the fat in avocados is tremendously helpful in the bodies absorption of nutrients from other plant foods, as Dr. Michael Gregor explains in this video.
What’s in guacamole?
- Avocados – the key to making great guacamole is ripe avocados. See my tips below to determine whether your avocados are ripe.
- Onion – many guacamole recipes use red onion, but I absolutely love sweet onion and chose to use it in this recipe
- Garlic – this is not a traditional ingredient in guacamole. But as a garlic lover, I choose to add plenty of garlic to my recipe. You can leave it out, or use less if you prefer.
- Jalapeno pepper – I add a little heat to my guacamole with jalapeno pepper. For an even spicier dip, leave the seeds in the jalapeno
- Cilantro – I love a bit of cilantro in my guacamole, but I acknowledge that as many as 14% of people don’t care for it. Feel free to leave it out if you are one of the 14%.
- Lime juice – I used the juice from half of a medium lime. You can use more, if you like more tang to your dip.
- Salt – a bit of salt brings all the flavors together for a delicious guacamole!
How to tell if your avocado is ripe
To determine the ripeness of your avocados, give them a gentle squeeze. They should be firm, but give a little if they are ripe. They should not be soft or mushy. You can also look at the stem end of the avocado. It will be brown, rather than green, when the avocado is ripe.
Another way to determine the ripeness is ripe avocados have dark skin. If your avocado is a bright green color, leave it on the counter for a couple of days to ripen. You can also store the under ripe avocado with bananas or apples. The ethlyene gas given off by these fruits will speed the ripening process.
How to make homemade guacamole
Cut each avocado in half, remove the pits, and scoop out the flesh. Smash them lightly with a fork or a pastry cutter.
Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl of avocado, and continue to mix and smash until it reaches your desired consistency.
It can be as chunky or smooth as you like. For a very smooth guacamole, you can puree it with an immersion blender.
How to serve this delicious dip
- Use it as a dip for oil free baked tortilla chips or crisp fresh veggies
- Top your favorite Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, fajitas, nachos, or taco salads
- Spread it on your veggie burgers or sandwiches
- Top a baked potato with a spoonful of guacamole
- Add a scoop to your grain and veggie bowls
How to store fresh guacamole
There are a couple of methods to store fresh guacamole that can help reduce the oxidation (browning) of the dip. One is to add a thin layer of cold water over the guacamole to prevent air from contacting it when stored. Pour off the water before using the guacamole.
Another similar method is to place plastic wrap directly on top of the guacamole making sure the wrap is tucked at the sides of the container. This also keeps air from the dip.
For longer storage, you can puree the guacamole, scoop into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen, you can place the guacamole cubes in a zip-lock bag to keep in the freezer for topping on foods such as burritos. These cubes keep well for a couple months, though they loose some of their zing and texture.
For more delicious dips and sauces, see:
- Cherry Tomato Salsa
- Easy Vegan Black Bean Dip
- Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Oil Free Hummus
- Vegan Chipotle Mayo
- Roasted Garlic Hummus
- Vegan Honey Mustard Dressing
- Creamy Italian Dressing
- Cashew Cheese Sauce
- Vegan Sour Cream
- Vegan Tahini Sauce
Looking for more Mexican recipes? Try:
- Soy Curl Fajitas
- Mexican Vegetable Saute
- Black Bean and Grilled Vegetable Tacos
- Mexican Quinoa Bowl
- Quinoa and Black Bean Enchiladas
- Instant Pot Mexican Rice
- Fat Free Tortillas
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a rating and feedback below. It only takes a few seconds, but helps other visitors to my site. Thank you for taking the time to leave your comment!
And come join my Oil Free Vegan Recipes and Support Facebook group, where you can share your favorite oil free vegan recipes, and give and receive support on your plant based journey.
Easy Homemade Guacamole
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- ½ cup onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic pressed
- ¼ jalapeno seeded and finely diced
- 1 ½ tablespoons cilantro chopped
- ½ medium lime juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cut each avocado in half, remove the pits, and scoop out the flesh. Smash them lightly with a fork or a pastry cutter.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl of avocado, and continue to mix and smash until it reaches your desired consistency. It can be as chunky or smooth as you like. For a very smooth guacamole, you can puree it with an immersion blender.
- Taste to test the flavor and add more salt, cilantro, or lime juice to your taste preference.
Nutrition
Nutrition calculations are approximate.
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