by Aniruddha

Created on: October 08, 2009   Last Updated: October 10, 2009

Getting Started

Preparing guacamole from fresh ingredients is always a treat for any party or a get together. Moreover the compliments that you will get on it after putting so less time is certainly flattering.

Supply List

2 ripe avocados
2 tomato (cored)
2 large onion (preferable white onion)
2 cup of cilantro leaves
1 large lemon
2 jalapeno (optional)
salt to taste

Identifying the correct ingredients increases the taste. Please see additional resources below to identify proper items.

Tools

Knife
Spoon
Masher
Flat bottom bowl for mixing

Step-by-step instructions

Preparation time: 20-25 minutes

1. Core and chop the tomato

Cut the tomato in half and remove the seeds and the pulp from both the halves. Coring the tomato is required as the seeds will ruin the taste of guacamole and the tomato pulp will ruin the texture.
Chop the cored tomato in small cube pieces.

2. Chop the onion

Finely chop the onion. Do not crush the onion as it will remove all the juice from the onion and reduce the flavor of guacamole.

3. Cut the avocados

Cut the avocado into half and remove the seed. Take the spoon and remove the flesh into the flat bowl.

4. Prepare the mix

Mash the avocado flesh, the chopped onions, and the tomato pieces together. Mash it into a fine and smooth paste. This will mix the flavors together and make your guacamole tastier.

5. Chop the cilantro leaves

Finely chop the cilantro. Chopping the cilantro leaves is necessary as this will make the guacamole paste more smoother and the two flavors will mix together very well.

6. Chop the jalapenos

Chop the jalapenos into small pieces. It is optional to put in the jalapenos, but if you want to make the guacamole

7. Prepare the final mix

Mix in the chopped cilantro leaves and the jalapeno pieces in the mix created in step 4 and mash it all together into a fine and smooth paste.

8. Squeeze the lemon

Squeeze the lemon juice on top of the paste prepared in step 7. Avocado flesh gets dark when exposed to air and adding lemon juice to it will considerably slow the process.

9. Guacamole is ready

Add salt to taste and mix it uniformly. Your guacamole is ready now. Eat it as a relish or enjoy as a dip with your favorite chips.

Additional Resources

Identifying the correct ingredients is very necessary to make a perfect dish. Choosing correct ingredients increases the flavor and the taste of guacamole.

Ripe avocados

Ripe avocados have firm flesh, but give a little when you squeeze. Avocados should be selected based on this tactile test and not color. It is better to buy ripe avocados the day you need them. To ripen a avocado, let the avocado sit in a cool place, such as a kitchen counter not in sunlight. Depending on when in the avocado's life it was picked, it will ripen in anywhere from one to eight days. To expedite the ripening process, place the avocado in a brown paper bag, loosely shut. The bag traps ethylene from the ripening avocado, speeding the process.

Tomatoes

Good tomato should bright red in color and should be firm when held in your hand. It should not give up under pressure. Refrigerated tomato tends to lose flavor therfore a vine ripened tomato will add a great flavor.

Onions

Good onions are firm and crisp. It should not be squishy and should not have a brown or dark spots.

Cilantro

Cilantro should be bright green color all the way round and should have a nice herb flavor. It should not be too wet and should stand straight when you hold it by the stem.

Lemon

Lemons should be bright yellow and should not be dry looking. It should be firm and have a nice lemony flavor.

Jalapenos

Jalapenos should have a tight firm skin with bright green color. The tip should be firm green on the top of the jalapeno. It should not have and dark spots on the skin.

Learn more about this author, Aniruddha.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.