Simplest Guacamole, Easy Dip Recipe

Guacamole can be made many ways, but purists like to keep it simple

Guacamole - One of Four Essential Summer Foods: Basil Pesto, Slightly Garlicky Hummus, and Salsa Fresca. How could we live without them?

We often combine all 4 essential foods in one meal, e.g. on thick slices of crusty bread with a simple salad of mixed baby greens and a lemon & oil dressing.

Along with a bowl of corn chips, burrito fixings, crusty bread, rice crackers - or anything - this easy dip recipe feeds 4 guacamole lovers.

Yield: 4 Servings, Approx. 2 cups

Total Prep Time: 15 Min

Nutrition Data Per Serving, 107g: 163 cal, 123 fat cal, 9g carb, 15g fat, 2g saturated fat, 153mg sodium, 7g fiber, 1g sugars, 2g protein, low Cholesterol, good source Vit C, Vit K, Folate. Estimated glycemic load 2.

Ingredients:

2 medium ripe but firm avocados
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Optional Additions:
2 Tbsp minced cilantro
Pinch cayenne pepper or chili powder
1/4 cup fresh salsa

Directions:

Half the avodacos, and remove the stones. One neat way is to whack into the middle of the stone with a sharp chef's knife, then twist the knife to release the stone. Use a cloth or sponge to pull the stone off the knife.
Scoop the avocado out of the shells with a spoon into a shallow bowl
Mash with a fork, potato masher, or pastry blender until smooth
Mix in the remaining ingredients
Taste and adjust the seasonings
Devour immediately - guacamole is a poor keeper!

Recipe Tips:

The best avocados for guacamole are firm all over but give slightly when pressed gently. Avoid buying avocados that are already completely ripe. They are often bruised (check for soft spots) and will have black spots that will spoil your guac.

Which reminds me of that meme: How do you tell when an avocado is ripe? "Not yet ... not yet ... not yet ... too late!"

It's best to buy avocados hard and ripen them at home. They ripen quickly in a paper bag with a couple of pears or apples added. That will greatly improve your chances of seizing the perfect avocado moment.

Guacamole is a "poor keeper." It will start to go brown after a short time in the fridge and become quite disgusting. Make guacamole right before serving and only as much as you think you'll need. 1/2 an avocado per person is a good guestimate.