Simple Guacamole

Simple Guacamole is full of authentic flavor and you can mix up this delicious, easy-to-make guacamole recipe in just minutes!

It is perfect for taco nights or social gatherings. All you need is just a few simple ingredients like avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and onion for the best-tasting guacamole.

This simple guacamole recipe makes a delicious appetizer or snack and you can make it anytime.

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Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Which Type of Onion Should I Use?
• Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make Simple Guacamole
• How to Keep Guacamole from Turning Brown
• How to Make Guacamole for a Crowd
• More Recipes for a Delicious Fiesta
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I don't think there is anything quite like the flavorful and clean taste of freshly made guacamole. With a few crisp and salty tortilla chips, it is a perfect appetizer that not only pairs with classic margaritas but also with crisp white wines and cold Corona beer.

The simplest guacamole recipes contain just 3 ingredients: avocado, lime juice, and salt. But just a few aromatics like cilantro, onion, and garlic elevate guacamole to irresistible savory heights.

This recipe easily makes two to three servings. As a snack, I would say it is two servings and as an appetizer, I would estimate it to be 3 servings.

What I love the most about this recipe, is it is easily scaled by simply doubling or tripling the quantities without the worry that the aromatic flavor makers will become overwhelming. So, let's make some guacamole!

Ingredients

Here's what you need for this simple guacamole recipe:

• Hass Avocados - This California variety of avocados has a rich buttery flavor with a nuttiness that makes it unforgettable. The texture is never stringy or fibrous. It is the easiest avocado to know when it is ripe since the skin changes color from green to black and green with purple tones. As you hold it in your hand the avocado gives a little.
• Limes - Lime juice is essential to turn avocados into guacamole. The flavor of the lime juice with its bright acidity is key. Fresh is best, but choose bottled lime juice over buying a fresh lemon as a substitute.
• Salt - Is there any dish that doesn't benefit from salt? I use ordinary table salt, specifically Morton's. Their salt is consistent in the size of the grain, so I know I'm using the right amount. But if you want to use a different salt, Morton's has an exceptional salt conversion chart. Start with using a smaller amount, like ¼ of a teaspoon, and then taste and add more if needed. Generally, ½ teaspoon is a good amount for fine-grain salts.
• Onion - Any onion variety will add savory notes but my favorite to use is a red onion. See the notes below on which onion is the best for you to use.
• Garlic - You only need one garlic clove to make this guac go from Yum! to Wow!
• Cilantro (Optional) - Poor cilantro is one ingredient that has a love-hate following. Some people absolutely love cilantro and the smell and taste of soft herbal and flowery notes. Other people absolutely hate it and say it tastes like soap. I personally love cilantro and add it to many of my Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes.

Which Type of Onion Should I Use?

Not all onions taste exactly the same. Some onions are mild and sweet, and others are sharper and more piquant. I personally like red onions for this recipe, but you might like a milder flavor. Here are the main characteristics of red, yellow, and green onions to help you decide which one you might like best:

• Red Onion - The red onion is sharp and piquant. This onion will be the most aromatic of the three listed here.
• Yellow Onion - All yellow onions are milder than red onions and some may be "sweet" depending on where they are farmed. The best choices for sweet yellow onions are from Maui and Georgia.
• Green Onion - Also called scallions, green onions are the mildest onion flavor of these three onions.

Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Make Simple Guacamole

Safely Halve and Pit. Halve and pit each avocado by placing each avocado on a cutting board. Place a knife in the middle of the roundest portion of the avocado and cut down to the pit.

Turn the avocado on the board and continue to cut around the pit until the avocado is cut in half at its equator.

Twist apart the two halves of the avocado and squeeze out the pit.

Using a spoon, scoop the avocado into a small bowl.

Add the Aromatics. Add the salt, minced garlic, minced onions, chopped fresh cilantro, and lime juice.

Mix. Mix the guacamole with a fork to break up the avocado into a mixture of smoother and chunkier pieces of avocado. For a smoother texture use the fork to mash the avocado well.

Refrigerate. Although you could serve the guacamole immediately, the flavors of the ingredients will improve with some time. So, I like to make guacamole about 1 hour before I want to serve it.

How to Keep Guacamole from Turning Brown

Cut avocados and guacamole will begin to brown immediately when they are exposed to air. Over the years I've heard and tried many tips to keep guac from browning. Saving the avocado seed and putting it in the center of the guac does not work. Nor do I recommend simply pouring a thin layer of water on top of the guac. These two methods just don't work.

What does work is smoothing the top of the guacamole with a spoon and then covering the surface of the guac with plastic wrap. You must press the plastic wrap onto the entire exposed surface of the guacamole to keep it fresh and looking green.

How to Make Guacamole for a Crowd

Are you having a party and need a lot of fresh guacamole? Just follow these simple steps to make it easy and perfect every time!

• Prep and measure everything except the avocados in advance. Mince the onions and the garlic. Squeeze the lime juice. Chop the cilantro.
• In a glass bowl add everything except the cilantro and the avocados: add the minced onions, minced garlic, lime juice, and salt. Stir well, cover tightly, and refrigerate these flavor makers until an hour before the party.
• One hour before the party, pit, peel, and mash the avocados. A potato masher will make it easier to mash the avocados. Stir in those lovely refrigerated flavor makers and add the chopped cilantro. One hour later the guac is ready!

Don't wait for Cinco de Mayo to try this delicious guac. You can make any day a fiesta when you serve this easy guacamole to family and friends.

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