Easy Guacamole Recipe

Best Easy Guacamole Recipe Ever

Who doesn’t love guacamole? And who doesn’t love an Easy Guacamole Recipe.

The popularity of avocados has skyrocketed over the last 5 years, and with it, the popularity of  guacamole recipes.

Where do avocados come from?

Avocados originated in southern Mexico. They were prized as an aphrodisiac. Consider its Aztec Nahuatl name–two words–ahuacatl (meaning testicle) and molli (sauce).  Interesting choice of words.

The  “avocado” is the actually the fruit of the avocado tree. It’s often called an “alligator pear” because it is usually shaped like a pear and has green, bumpy skin, almost like alligator skin. That makes perfect sense.

As the use and popularity of the avocado spread north to the Rio Grande and then south to central Peru, it was only a matter of time before the Europeans fell in love with the avocado.

The Modern-Day Avocado

There are different type of avocados, but the most popular type that we eat today is called the Hass avocado.

Hass avocados have a great story, linking it’s origins to Rudolph Hass. Mr. Hass, who worked for the US Post Office in California, had a fascination with avocados and was determined to create the prefect avocado. Through cross pollination, the now popular Hass (rhymes with Sass) avocado was born. Thank you, Mr. Hass.

How to Cut an Avocado

In order to make this Easy Guacamole Recipe, you need to know how to cut the avocado. It can be a tricky, so pay attention.

Using a large knife, cut the avocado, top to bottom, with stem being the top.

Twist to separate the halves.

Now here is where things can get interesting (and dangerous). At this point, need to remove the pit. This can be done a couple of ways. But be super careful!

You can leave the avocado on a cutting board and slice it with the avocado resting on the board. Here’s a great article on Cutting an Avocado on a Cutting Board.

This is actually the safest method of cutting an avocado.

Since avocados have risen in popularity, “avocado hand” injuries on the rise, with many visits to the ER being reported. The makeup of the avocado, with it’s tough outer shell and soft inner fruit, the knife can easily slip as pressure is put on the outer peel. And also there’s the task of removing the pit.

Be safe and Use a Towel

My preferred method is to jut put the avocado half in my hand and tap a knife into it.  Place a clean kitchen towel in your hand nondominant hand (the one not holding the knife). Place the avocado half with the pit still attached in the towel.

Why use a towel? It’s the lack of aim when tapping a sharp knife into the avocado pit. You could miss for a variety of reasons (bad aim or slippery avocado). So use the towel. Be safe!

Tap the knife gently into the pit until the knife enters the pit. You may have to tap it a couple of times, using a lightly harder than gentle tap to make contact.

Twist the knife and the pit should release. If not, use a spoon to scoop it out.

Cut a few slices and cubes into the avocado, and scoop it out into a bowl to be used in your recipe.

Is guacamole good for you?

First of all, they taste great.  Whether mixed with other ingredients for our beloved guacamole or just sliced on toast or to be added in salad, they are delicious and super nutritious.

Avocados are considered a Super Food because they are loaded with nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals–potassium, Vitamins B, E and K to name a few.

How to tell if the avocado is ripe?

The trick to perfect guacamole is using good, perfectly ripe avocados. I wrote a post with lots of info on the avocado, including tips on ripeness.

The gist is this. Check for ripeness by gently pressing the outside of the avocado.

If there is no give, the avocado is not ripe yet and will not taste good. And may be impossible to cut!

If there is a little give, the avocado is ripe, and if there is a lot of give, the avocado may be past the stage of ripeness. It may be brown inside when you cut into it. Pass on this one.

In the photo below, the top avocado in the 12 o’clock position is not ripe. The avocado in the 3 o’clock position is getting there. The one in the 6 o’clock position is perfect. The avocado in the 9 o’clock position is ripe and bordering on too ripe.

My favorite easy guacamole recipe

I’ve tried so many different guacamole recipes. The basic recipe is the same. Guacamole recipes always contain a couple of avocados. Hass (rhymes with sass) avocados are my favorite.  Lime juice, cilantro, onion (usually red), jalapeno and salt are the rest of the mainstays. The only variations seem to be the addition of tomatoes and garlic, either minced fresh garlic or garlic powder.

And my favorite is (drum roll)–It’s a tie. The table-side prepared guacamole at Cantina Laredo squeaks by as my favorite, probably because it has garlic in it and it tastes so fresh.

But the guacamole served at Chipotle Mexican Grill comes in as a really close second. I can’t get enough!

So my easy guacamole recipe combines both. I just add a smidge of cumin and 1 clove of garlic, minced or 1/4 tsp garlic powder.