Guacamole is the king of dips for a reason. It’s fresh, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make at home. This classic recipe focuses on simple, high-quality ingredients to let the flavor of the ripe avocados shine through. Forget the store-bought tubs—this is the only guacamole recipe you’ll ever need.
Yields: About 2 cups Prep time: 5-10 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes Total time: 5-10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 large ripe avocados
- 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
- ½ cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 small jalapeño, seeds removed and minced (optional, adjust to your spice preference)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- Optional: 1 small Roma tomato, seeded and diced
Instructions:
- Prepare the Avocados: Slice the avocados in half lengthwise and remove the pits. Scoop the flesh into a medium-sized bowl.
- Add Lime Juice: Immediately pour the lime juice over the avocados. This adds essential flavor and helps prevent the avocados from browning.
- Mash: Gently mash the avocados with a fork or a potato masher. Aim for a chunky consistency—it’s best to leave some small lumps for texture. Do not overmash into a purée.
- Add Mix-Ins: Add the chopped red onion, minced jalapeño (if using), and fresh cilantro to the bowl.
- Season and Combine: Sprinkle with salt and gently stir everything together until just combined. If you are using tomatoes, fold them in now.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the guacamole with a chip. Adjust the seasoning as needed, adding more salt, lime juice, or cilantro to your preference.
- Serve Immediately: Guacamole is best served fresh. Serve it with your favorite tortilla chips, as a topping for tacos, or with fresh vegetable sticks.
Pro Tip to Prevent Browning: If you need to make it slightly ahead of time, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the entire surface of the guacamole to prevent air from getting to it. This will keep it green for a few hours in the refrigerator.
