Happy National Guacamole day! As a lover of avocados, I'm pretty passionate when it comes to what makes a good guacamole. As far as I am concerned the star of the show is the avocado. Everything else is there for support, right?
There are certain things that I personally consider crimes against guacamole like the addition of mayonnaise … EEK! Still, I do realize that there is more than one way to make delicious guacamole. Even so there are some rules you must follow in order to make the best guac on the block.
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Here are the five rules you must follow in order to make guacamole the right way:
1. You must use avocados to make guacamole. There is no such thing as avocado-free guacamole. If you are avocado-intolerant, too bad for you and more for me!
2. Your avocados must be ripe and delicious. If your avocados are not delicious and perfectly ripe your guacamole is doomed. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 chips for dipping. Go find some perfectly ripe avocados and start over!
3. Your perfectly ripe avocados must be mashed. If you don't mash them, then it's not guacamole, it's just a yummy avocado. You can mash them with a molcajete, a fork, a whisk, just mash them. It's up to you how coarse or creamy you like them, but I recommend a chunky texture.
4. You must use juice from lemons or limes. I like lime juice in my guacamole, you may prefer lemon juice, the point is you need one or the other mixed in there. If you don't use lemon or lime juice, instead of a luscious green dip, you'll end up with an unattractive brown eyesore. The acid in lemon or limes will keep your guacamole from browning and the bonus is that it also taste delicious!
5. Salt it and add some bonus yumminess. Unless a little bit of salt is going to kill you, there is no reason not to salt your guacamole. Avocados want to be salted, they practically beg to be salted. Salt to taste and then add some other awesome ingredients. Great options include, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, garlic, chopped jalapeño or Serrano peppers and chopped onions.
See, it's really not that complicated. Just remember to follow these rules and go make some delicious guacamole!
Image via Corbis Images
