Guacamole

About Guacamole

Guacamole is a foundational dish of Mexican cooking, dating back to the Aztecs, whose name comes from words meaning avocado and sauce. At its best it is simple and fresh: ripe avocado mashed with lime and salt, then studded with finely chopped onion, serrano chile, cilantro, and tomato. The texture is meant to be coarse rather than smooth, so you still get pieces of buttery avocado, and the flavor balances the richness of the fruit against bright lime, sharp raw onion, herbal cilantro, and the clean heat of fresh serrano.

The dish rewards restraint and freshness over any clever technique, which is why it comes together in about ten minutes with no cooking at all. Mashing the avocado only coarsely keeps the body substantial, and folding the aromatics in at the end preserves their crunch and brightness. Lime does double duty, seasoning the dip and slowing the browning of the avocado, so guacamole is best made and eaten close together. Served with tortilla chips as an appetizer, or alongside tacos and grilled meats, it is naturally vegan and high in fiber.