One of the easiest ways to add more plants to your diet is to make your own dips. Start with this simple guacamole recipe, which takes just 10 minutes to make.
Featuring fresh avocados, tomatoes, and plenty of lime juice, this guacamole is delicious with tortilla chips, tacos, and more.
A bit about guacamole: As a traditional part of Mexican cuisine, guacamole dates back to the 1500s. It can be traced to the Aztecs, who called the sauce “āhuacamōlli,” or avocado sauce. Avocados also originated in south central Mexico, but these days, it grows in other tropical regions such as California and Florida.
Ready to add fresh guacamole to your rotation? Check out the recipe, below, plus tips for choosing avocados, preventing browning, and storing homemade guacamole.
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Health Benefits of Avocados
When it comes to avocado nutrition, there’s a lot to love about the fruit. Here are the top health benefits of eating avocados:
- Increases satiety. “Avocados are rich in fiber, which is filling and great for your digestive health,” says registered dietitian SaVanna Shoemaker, RDN. Fiber is digested slowly by the body, so it keeps you full for a long time.
- Reduces inflammation. According to Shoemaker, avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, also known as “good” fats. Monounsaturated fats may decrease inflammation, a process that’s involved in the development of chronic conditions.
- Supports heart health. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory fats of avocado, it’s an excellent heart-friendly food. “Including these fats in your diet can decrease your levels of LDL [“bad”] cholesterol particles, which are associated with an increased risk of heart disease,” says Shoemaker. What’s more, avocados are a great source of potassium, which the body needs to regulate blood pressure, she adds. This is key because high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease.
Key Ingredients
- Avocados. Of course, there’s no guacamole without avocados. Be sure to use ripe avocados for the best flavor and texture.
- Tomatoes. Tomatoes add color, nutrition, and flavor to this dish. Vine tomatoes, roma tomatoes, and even cherry tomatoes all work well.
- Onion. Raw onions add flavor and bite to this homemade guacamole. You can use white, yellow, or red onion, depending on your preference.
- Lime juice. For the best flavor, use fresh lime juice.
How to Make the Best Guacamole Recipe
Ready in just 10 minutes, this easy guacamole recipe makes for a delicious dip or topping. See how to make it in just 4 easy steps.
1. Slice the avocado in half and remove the pits with a spoon. Scoop out the avocado flesh and place it in a bowl.
2. Mash the avocado flesh with a large fork. You can also use a potato masher.
3. Add the tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, salt, and lime juice.
4. Stir to combine, then taste and add more salt or lime juice if necessary. Serve with tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, or sandwiches.
How to Buy Avocados for Now or Later
When shopping for avocados, it’s important to consider your plans for using them. This will help you pick the right ones for the job.
If you want to use them as soon as you get home, look for avocados that are somewhat firm but have some give when you touch them. The peel should be black-dark green. Alternatively, if you plan to use them later on, pick firm unripe avocados with a light green peel. They’ll ripen within 2 to 3 days at room temperature (or even sooner if it’s warm).
How to Stop Avocados From Turning Brown
Avocado flesh turns brown when it’s exposed to oxygen. It has has nothing to do with the pit, contrary to what many people may think.
Avocado contains compounds called phenols. When phenols are exposed to oxygen, they turn into different compounds called quinones, which cause browning.
With that in mind, the best way to prevent avocados from browning is to limit oxygen exposure. You can do this by storing cut avocados or guacamole in an airtight container. Another option is to add lime juice (like we did in this recipe), which slows down the browning process.
Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
- Quickly ripen avocados with paper bags. To speed up the ripening process, place unripe avocados in a brown paper bag. This will shorten the ripening time to 1 or 2 days.
- Skip the cilantro. Although cilantro is a classic guacamole ingredient, you can skip it if you don’t like it.
- Add jalapeños. For an extra kick, add diced raw jalapeño peppers. Leave the seeds and white pith if you prefer a spicier guacamole.
- Use lemon juice. If you don’t like lime juice, or if you don’t have any on hand, try this recipe with lemon juice. You could even use a mixture of both.
How to Store Guacamole
Store leftover guacamole in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Be sure to use an airtight container, which will help slow down browning and keep the guacamole fresh.
Serving Suggestions
- Vegan sweet potato enchiladas — Top off homemade enchiladas with fresh guacamole
- Loaded vegan nachos — Guacamole is the perfect partner for hearty vegan nachos
- Tomatillo green chili salsa — Complete your spread by serving this guac alongside salsa verde
How to Make the Best Guacamole
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the avocado in half and remove the pits with a spoon. Scoop out the avocado flesh and place it in a bowl.
- Mash the avocado flesh with a large fork. You can also use a potato masher.
- Add the tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro, salt, and lime juice.
- Stir to combine, then taste and add more salt or lime juice if necessary. Serve with tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, or sandwiches.
Notes
- To speed up the ripening process, place unripe avocados in a brown paper bag. This will shorten the ripening time to 1 or 2 days.
- Although cilantro is a classic guacamole ingredient, you can skip it if you don’t like it.
- For an extra kick, add diced raw jalapeño peppers. Leave the seeds and white pith if you prefer more spicy guacamole.
- If you don’t like lime juice, or if you don’t have any on hand, try this recipe with lemon juice. You could even use a mixture of both.
- Store leftover guacamole in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Be sure to use an airtight container, which will help slow down browning and keep the guacamole fresh.
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About the Author
Kirsten Nunez is a journalist who focuses on healthy food and cooking. Her vegan and plant-based recipes have appeared on VegNews, eHow, Shape, and more. When she’s not creating and photographing vegan recipes for Clean Green Simple, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen and sharing plant-based meals with friends and family. More articles by Kirsten.
