Easy Guacamole Recipe (Homemade in 5 Minutes) (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional guacamole made of? ›

Here's all you need for traditional guacamole: ripe avocados, coriander/cilantro, red onions, jalapeño or Serrano chilli, lime and salt. Avoid unnecessary fillers such as sour cream and cream cheese. They only dilute flavour. Popular optional extras include: garlic, tomato, cumin powder.

I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best! Salt: Salt enhances the flavors and brings it all together.

Often an additional pop of citrus is all guac needs to come alive and taste better. If you still aren't happy with the taste, you can rely on mix-ins to jazz it up. Try adding cilantro, salsa, a diced jalapeno or serrano pepper, feta cheese, or a few dashes of hot sauce.

Diana Kennedy all but forbids it in The Art Of Mexican Cooking, saying it “spoils the balance of flavors.” In Hugo Ortega's Street Foods Of Mexico, Ortega writes, “the secret to a good guacamole is to respect the avocado flavor and not drown it in lime juice” (he adds a scant 1/4 teaspoon for two large avocados).

Add tomatoes to your guac.

In my opinion, all guacamole should include tomato for texture and flavor. Regular tomatoes tend to be too watery, so go for grape tomatoes instead! You can quarter them and they'll stay nice and firm.

Generally speaking, the guacamole in Mexico is going to taste a bit fresher. The avocados, cilantro, and even the chiles used in the Mexican version are likely to be significantly fresher than those in the U.S. version.

The basic basic of Guacamole is Avocado, Tomatoes, Onion with salt to taste. General rule leave the guac under salted as Chips served with it are salted which you do not want an overly salty guac.

Most people prefer to use sweet white onion in their guacamole recipe. Red or yellow onion tends to give the guacamole too strong of a garlic flavor.

Mexico is a major producer of limes, and their limes are renowned for their high quality and flavor. Limes grown in Mexico are typically used in Mexican cuisine, where they add a bright acidity and tart flavor to dishes like tacos and guacamole.

Can you put too much lemon in guacamole? ›

5- Adding too much of lemon juice

Preparing guacamole without mistakes also lies in the amount of lemon that is added. The lemon juice is used to give it a sour touch, and prevent it from oxidizing. However, adding too much will bitter the flavor of your guacamole.

"The flesh of the avocado oxidizes quickly — much like a cut apple — which changes the color. The addition of citric acid, like from lime juice in your guac can help delay this process but will not completely prevent it," she says.

Method #2: Covering the Guac With Avocado Peels

The technique: Pressing the avocado peels flat against the guacamole surface shields the dip from air. If air can't reach it, browning can't occur. The results: Good luck keeping the peels flat.

From the second you crack open that avocado, it's a race against the clock before it goes brown. But with the right prep, you can make guacamole last in the fridge for three to four days. Planning on storing guacamole in the freezer? It should last for three to four months.

Add lemon juice

Acidulants, such as citric and ascorbic acid found in lemon juice, help lower the pH of avocados and decrease the enzymatic activity, keeping them from turning brown ( 1 , 3 ).

Make sure water covers the surface completely—all the way to the container's edge. Editor's Tip: You may have heard a squirt of lemon or lime juice also keeps guacamole from browning. It's true—as long as you cover the entire surface of the dip with citrus juice.

Never use a metal bowl with avocados as metal makes the avocado turn brown faster. Always use a plastic or ceramic bowl. If possible, use a certamic or a Teflon covered knife for cutting your avocado. This will also help the avocado not turn brown.