The Best Guacamole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes guacamole taste better? ›

Fresh lime juice and zest – They make the guacamole zesty and bright. Jalapeño – For heat. Feel free to omit it if you're sensitive to spice. A serrano pepper would work here too!

Authentic guacamole recipes are made with just a few simple ingredients – avocados, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, and salt.

Pour a thin but visible layer of water or lemon/lime juice over the guacamole to form a barrier with the air. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, pushing the wrap, so it is flush with the guacamole to prevent air pockets, or put the guacamole in a sealed tub.

With ripe tomatoes so rare in the U.S., I generally leave them out.) I know what you're about to ask. "But what about oxidation?” While lime is touted as a way prevent avocados from browning, it takes a lot of lime for that to work—and it's generally a bad idea to transform a dish's taste for aesthetic reasons.

Fun ways to customize your guacamole recipe

Your favorite regular salsa or fruit salsa. A little crunch from pepitas or even sunflower seeds. Extra heat with your favorite hot sauce. Savory goodness from crumbled cotija cheese and/or minced garlic.

Olive oil is rich in healthy fats and imparts a subtle richness to guacamole that makes it even more satisfying. In addition, it can help to prevent the avocado from turning brown too quickly by forming a barrier between the surface of the guacamole and the air.

Tomatoes — not all guac recipes have tomatoes in them but I sure love tomatoes in mine. I remove the seeds of the tomatoes so the guacamole doesn't become soggy. Chili — the most common chilis added are either jalapeño or serrano chili depending on how spicy you want it.

Add milk or cream to make your guacamole denser. Place slices or cubes of fresh cheese on top of your guac. Add chopped mint to make your guacamole even fresher. Mango cubes add an unexpected touch and also keep your guac from turning brown.

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.

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.

Can you use lemon juice instead of lime juice in guacamole? ›

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.

Although brown guacamole isn't the most appealing, it's completely safe to eat (as long as you've stored the guacamole in the refrigerator, and it isn't more than three days old). "While a bit off-putting to look at, brown guacamole is totally safe," confirms Food Network's nutritionist, Dana Angelo White, MS RD ATC.

Placing an avocado seed in the guacamole is said to prevent discoloration yet this is not entirely true. The only place where it will prevent browning is directly underneath the seed, as the seed works to eliminate contact between the guacamole and oxygen from the air.

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.

Sour cream is a simple addition to your favorite guacamole recipe. Just a few tablespoons to a small batch recipe will do it. The sour cream adds a nice tang without being too overbearing and it also creates a creamy, silky mouthfeel. A fabulous contrast to the crunch of tortilla chips.

It isn't exposed to air

When avocados are exposed to air, they begin to oxidize. That's when and why they start to turn brown. But if you can eliminate any contact with air, guacamole — or even an avocado half — can be stored for longer without changing colors.

How to take the Bitterness out of Guacamole. Sometimes ingredients can be bland or produce a bitter taste. An avocado that is not ripe will be bitter. Add ½ teaspoon of sugar per cup of guacamole to reduce bitter taste.

All you really need to make guacamole is ripe avocados and salt. After that, a little lime or lemon juice—a splash of acidity—will help balance the richness of the avocado. If you want, add chopped cilantro, chilis, onion, and/or tomato.