avocados

Are you looking for a quick and easy guacamole recipe? Then you need to try this 4-ingredient guacamole recipe. The great thing about this easy guacamole recipe is that it's so simple to make and you can customize it to your favorite flavor preferences. National Guacamole Day September 16 is National Guacamole Day. I never need an excuse to eat guacamole, but this holiday is just one more excuse. I always have it on Cinco de Mayo too - here are a few of my favorite Mexican-inspired recipes that pair great with this guac recipe. What You Need for this 4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe Ripe Avocado: You know it's ripe when it's just slightly soft to the touch. If the avocado is too soft or overripe, it will not be good for this guacamole recipe. And if its not ripe enough, it won't have a very good flavor. Underripe avocado is rather bland and not that creamy. Garlic cloves are the second ingredient. You can either buy the pre-minced garlic or finely mince it yourself. Some people prefer to blend it in a food processor so it's really smooth and macerated. The last two ingredients are salt and lime juice. This is the best lime juicer, by the way. Although I did include specific measurements for these, I personally think you can adjust the amount of salt and lime depending on your flavor and taste preferences. Guacamole Texture: Smooth Vs. Chunky There are two different ways (at least) that you can make your guacamole. If you want it to be chunky, you'll want to do the mashing technique. For mashing, you will use a fork or a potato masher to mash the avocado. If you want a smoother guacamole texture, you can use a food processor. Add the avocados, lime juice, salt, and garlic to the food processor and blend until smooth. You can make the guacamole even creamier by adding olive oil, tahini, yogurt, or sour cream. Obviously, any of these additions are going to change the flavor and texture. At this point, you can remove it from the food processor and then add any of the other things you might enjoy, such as chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro and extra spices. Other Ingredients to Add to Guacamole The main reason this recipe only has four ingredients is that people have strong preferences for certain ingredients. This base recipe is perfect for adding any other things that you prefer in your guacamole. The most authentic add-ins include diced onions (red or white), diced tomatoes, cilantro, and some other spices. I use cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. Some people also like to add paprika. I know a lot of people don't like cilantro, but I actually love the taste of it. The great thing about this 4-ingredient guacamole recipe is that it is so easy to customize to your flavor preferences. How to Serve this 4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe This simple guacamole recipe can be used as dips for things like tortilla chips, or chopped veggies. I like to serve guacamole with jicama, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers and celery. But, it's also great to add on top of your favorite Mexican dishes, such as tacos, quesadillas, or burritos. How to Store Your Homemade Guacamole One of the hardest parts about making homemade guacamole is keeping it from turning brown. Avocados and guacamole turn brown so quickly because they oxidize when they come in contact with air. It is possible to keep the guacamole from turning so quickly by storing it in an airtight container, and also adding either olive oil or lime juice to the top of the guacamole. You will already have some lime juice in the recipe, but adding a bit more on top will help it oxidize less quickly. 4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe Ingredients: 3 Ripe Avocados, should feel soft to the touch but have no dark spots on the flesh 2 Cloves of Garlic finely minced or pureed ½ Teaspoon Salt 1-2 Tablespoons Lime Juice, to taste Directions: Cut the avocado lengthwise and remove the pit. If there are any brown spots on the flesh, remove them before mashing. Add the avocados to a bowl and mash them with a fork or potato masher. Stir in lime juice, pureed garlic, and salt. Check the taste, and add more salt or lime juice to your taste preferences. At this point, you can also add other ingredients to your taste preference, such as cumin, chopped onions, cilantro, and diced tomatoes (my favorite combo). If you want a creamier guac, follow the instructions above by skipping the mashing step and adding all ingredients to a food processor, along with some of the ingredients to make it creamier (I prefer adding just a small amount of olive oil). Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days. If you're looking for other appetizer recipes, click here. Do you have a favorite guacamole recipe? What ingredients do you include?

avocados

4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe: How to Make This Easy Dip