Guacamole

Guacamole

My basic guacamole recipe, this is a basic, simple, and quick guacamole.  It is much better than the prepackaged guacamole sold in many stores and requires only a few minutes to make.  We usually have everything on hand to make this guacamole except the avocados.

Choosing a ripe avocado

Avocados are unlike most any other fruit, in the fact that they will never ripen on the tree.  An avocado will store almost indefinitely on the tree. It is only after an avocado is picked that it will start to ripen. 

To check if an avocado is ripe is fairly simple, the skin will start to turn from a green to a brown-green, and it will have just a little give when squeezed.  It should have about the same firmness as an orange, just a little give when you hold it and press gently with your thumb.  If it feels about right look over the skin and see if there are any spots that may indicated bruising, area much darker or areas that are much softer.  If it feels like you could easily push your thumb through the skin, it is past its time.

If it will be a day or two before you are going use the avocados, then buy them all about the same color and consistency.  That way they will all be ripe about the same time.  To rush the ripening process, store the avocados in a paper or plastic bag.  This will trap the ethylene gas and help them ripen.  You could also place a banana or an Apple in the bag this will help you produce in a little extra ethylene gas.  Do not put avocados in the refrigerator until they have ripened, once they have ripened, you can store then in the refrigerator for up to and additional five days.

The Ingredients 

2 large avocados (Haas) or 3 - 4 smaller avocados

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

6 to 8 drop’s of Tabasco Sauce.

1/2 of a medium onion finely chopped (I use a yellow onion)

1 -2 tomatoes diced into approx ¼ chunks

Salt to taste

1/2 lime

 Preparation 

Cut the avocados in half cutting through where the stalk attached.

Remove the seed and scoop out the flesh.

Loosely mash with a potato mashed, pastry cutter, or a fork.

Add garlic powder Tabasco and onions mix well

Add tomatoes loosely mix to evenly incorporate the tomatoes.

Add salt

Squeeze in the juice of the lime, taking care not to get any seed into the Guacamole.

Wait to mix the lime juice into the Guacamole until ready to serve.

If it will be a while before serving place the squeezed lime shell and 1 avocado seed on top and cover tightly.

 Clifton