Guacamole is hands down the best appetizer or snack recipe. This easy avocado dip is not only healthy, vegan, gluten-free but also extremely delicious! Serve it as dip with chips or use as a spread for your sandwiches, wraps and burgers!!
Guacamole is our family favorite dip and we love snacking on it. Best part is kids love to eat it just on its own too. I don't blame them, it's so delicious that its hard to resist!!
What is Guacamole
Guacamole is a Mexican dip made from a fruit called Avocado, which is the main ingredient in this dip. The mashed avocado pulp gives this dip a light green color & rich creamy texture. It is then flavored with basic seasoning like salt, pepper and lime or lemon juice along with jalapeños for heat, onions for some crunch and cilantro for that fresh flavor. Tomatoes are also added but are optional.
There are many ways one can make this dip but today I'm sharing how we love it !! So let's see what all we will need to make this authentic homemade guacamole .
Guacamole Ingredients
You need just a few fresh ingredients and pantry staples to make this delicious dip
Avocado - The best avocados to make guacamole are the little Hass variety. The riper the better! Ripe avocados have dark skin and yield to gentle pressure. It makes them easily mashable and are also naturally creamier. There is another variety of avocados that are bigger than Hass. But I wouldn't recommend using those since they usually have more water content which doesn't make the best guac.
Onions - I prefer using finely diced red onions. Other options on taste preference are white or yellow onions, scallions or green onions.
Jalapeños - These add nice heat without making it too spicy! Use serrano pepper instead or a small Indian or thai chilli as alternative.
Cilantro - This add a fresh herby flavor to the guac. Highly recommend adding it. Other option is some chives.
Lime juice - Whether you prefer lemon or lime or combination of both, make sure to add some. It acts as a barrier between the air and the guacamole to make sure the dip stays its greenest and helps delay the browning process.
Salt Pepper - The right amount can make magic to this dip by bringing out all the flavors.
Tomatoes - This is optional ingredient but if you plan to use it de-seed and use to prevent guacamole from getting runnier.
How to make the Guacamole
Cut the avocados in half lengthwise and take off the the pit (do not discard it if you are making this dip ahead of time, add these to the prepared guacamole for storing. see storage instructions).
Scoop out the green pulp or flesh from each half and place it in a mixing bowl. Using a fork, mash till you get desired consistency i.e. smooth or chunky. I like it somewhere in between, not too smooth or chunky.
Immediately squeeze some lime juice (or lemon juice) over it & mix well.
Stir in rest of the ingredients like onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, cilantro, salt, pepper and mix until combined. Taste and adjust salt pepper as needed.
Your creamy delicious Guacamole is ready ! Honestly, It is the best guacamole recipe you will ever need.
Quick hack to make Guacamole
If you have pico de gallo available which is nothing but salad made from diced onions, tomato, jalapeños, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper, then add that a tablespoon or two to the mashed avocados to make a quick guacamole!!
This also comes in handy when you want to serve it to a crowd. Prep the pico ahead of time and refrigerate in airtight container and then just before serving mash the avocados, add the pico, mix and serve!!
Storage Instructions
Avocado has a natural tendency to turn brown or oxidize when exposed to air. To prevent or slow down this process here are a few tried and tested ways to store guacamole
- Mix in the pit with your prepared guacamole and store in air-tight container in refrigerator for a day or two.
- Place a cling (plastic) wrap touching and covering the surface of the guacamole to prevent air exposure and store in air-tight container in refrigerator for couple of days.
If you still see a brown layer on the surface, scoop it off with the spoon to find the fresh green layer below. And yes it is still safe to use that guacamole.
Serving suggestions
You can serve guacamole as a
Dip - You can never go wrong with the classic combination of guacamole with tortilla chips. Healthier alternative is to serve it with raw cut veggies of choice.
Spread - on your toast, wraps, burgers, crunchwrap
Sauce /dressing/Topping - on your tacos, nachos, burrito bowl.
Tips for making Best Guacamole Recipe at home
- Use ripe Hass avocados which have dark skin and yield to gentle pressure. It makes them easily mashable and are also naturally creamier.
- Squeeze lemon or lime juice immediately after mashing the avocado to slow down browning due to air exposure.
- Add the avocado pit to the guacamole while storing it. That helps prevent browning too.
- Tomatoes secrete moisture and can temper with the dip consistency. If you want to use tomatoes, de-seed them and add them just before serving.
More delicious Dips to try:
Sweet and Sour Asian Dip with Wonton Chips
Goat Cheese Dip with Spinach, Sundried Tomatoes & Artichokes
Hope you enjoy this Easy Homemade Guacamole Recipe as much as we do!! If you give this recipe a try, we did love to hear your feedback ❤️ Please rate by clicking stars ⭐️ in the recipe card. Thank you!
Recipe Card
Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ripe avocados
- ½ jalapeno de-seeded and finely chopped (or use serrano peppers or regular green chilli)
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped (half small red onion)
- ¼ cup roma tomato finely chopped, 1 small roma tomato or use 8 cherry tomatoes, remove seeds/pulp
- 2-3 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped
- ½ lime juiced, adjust to taste
- Salt and pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- Cut the avocados in half lengthwise and take off the the pit (do not discard it if you are making this dip ahead of time).
- Scoop out the green pulp or flesh from each half and place it in a mixing bowl. Using a fork, mash till you get desired consistency i.e. smooth or chunky. I like it somewhere in between, not too smooth or chunky.
- Immediately squeeze some lime juice (or lemon juice) over it & mix well.
- Stir in rest of the ingredients like onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, cilantro, salt, pepper and mix until combined. Taste and adjust salt pepper as needed.
- Your creamy delicious Guacamole is ready !
Notes
- Use ripe Hass avocados which have dark skin and yield to gentle pressure. It makes them easily mashable and are also naturally creamier.
- Squeeze lemon or lime juice immediately after mashing the avocado to slow down browning due to air exposure.
- Add the avocado pit to the guacamole while storing it. That helps prevent browning too.
- Tomatoes secrete moisture and can temper with the dip consistency. If you want to use tomatoes, de-seed them and add them just before serving.
- Use pico de gallo (which is nothing but salad made from diced onions, tomato, jalapeños, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper) a tablespoon or two to the mashed avocados to make a quick guacamole!!
- Prep the pico ahead of time and refrigerate in airtight container and then just before serving mash the avocados, add the pico, mix and serve!!
- Mix in the pit with your prepared guacamole and store in air-tight container in refrigerator for a day or two.
- Place a cling (plastic) wrap touching and covering the surface of the guacamole to prevent air exposure and store in air-tight container in refrigerator for couple of days.
Happy Snacking !!
Shweta
Looks lovely.... Thanks for linking it up..
Ongoing event:
http://jiyasdelicacy.blogspot.sg/2012/05/first-event-exhibit-every-bite-1.html
Thanks Julie 🙂 Happy to link it!!
Loved the bright green color of dip..Thanx for linking it to the event..:-)