Homemade Guacamole

This Homemade Guacamole is packed with nutrients, keeps you feeling full and can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week. So the only real question is, why haven’t you got up to make your own yet!?

 

Avocado Season

When avocados are in season I try to incorporate this superfood into everything. OK, who am I kidding, I try to use them year round!

But did you know that actual peak avocado season for flavor is January through March. Which is odd since most people associate the fruit with summer months.

Thanks to technically and indoor agriculture, they are available year round.

Guacamole is for More Than Chips!

Homemade Guacamole Dip is a recipe I literally make weekly and put on top of nearly everything: chicken, grilled cheese, tuna steaks, avocado toast, salad, tortilla chips…. you name it.

Use it on nachos, burritos, veggies or just carrot sticks. Fresh ingredients that are dairy free and totally delicious.

Why Do Avocados Turn Brown?

Avocados turning brown doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad. Of course sometimes it does, but in most cases it just means they have been exposed to oxygen (air).

The easiest way to prevent strong browning is to add acid to your mix. Since this guacamole uses lime juice and that is an acid, it will aid in browning. If you don’t have lime juice on hand, lemon juice also works.

In terms of citrus juice, fresh is always better and has more flavor. It starts to lose flavor potency the moment it is squeezed so the bottle stuff is muted compared to a fresh spritz.

However, some is unpreventable unless you are using heavy, commercial grade chemicals. Just give it a quick stir and it will be fine.

How to Ripen Avocados

Avocados are tricky to time. Try to estimate when you’ll need them when purchasing at the store. Making your guacamole in 3 days? Find one that is super firm and more light green.

Making it this afternoon? You’ll need one that is a a deep, dark green and a gives a little when pressed, but isn’t super mushy.

If you need to ripen them faster, place them in a plastic or paper bag for several hours. The gases they emit will help ripen faster. Heat also speeds up the ripening process.

How Do You Make Guacamole From Scratch?

In 15 short minutes you can have the perfect mixture of avocados, red onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, a little sugar, and my special ingredient- a dash of hot sauce for that extra kick.

Start by chopping up all of your ingredients. Use a fine chop or mince for a smoother guac or a coarse chop for chunkier.

Choose how you want your ripe avocado. If you prefer a smooth and creamy texture, use a fork and mash avocados well or place it into a food processor and blend.

Of course, remove the pit and be super careful to not hurt yourself. “Avocado hand” is a real injury suffered by about 50,000+ injuries per year. That is crazy!!!!

Then fold in the other ingredients until well combined. And you are done! Easy guacamole in just minutes.

Storage & Freezing

If you’re wondering, can you freeze guacamole? The short answer is YES! This recipe freezes fairly well because it doesn’t have a lot of watery ingredients, like onions or tomatoes.

The lime juice will prevent your fresh guacamole from turning totally brown. Place it in an airtight plastic bag, try to get out as much air as possible and freeze.

When you’re ready to use your simple guacamole, take it out of the freezer and let it defrost enough to where you can feel it has softened. It might be a little watery, just give it a good stir.

Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. The best way to do this is to use plastic wrap on a bowl, pressing the plastic wrap right up against the top so little to no air is trapped. Stir well before serving.

More easy dip recipes:

• Hot Crab Dip
• Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
• Caramelized Onion and Garlic Dip
• Avocado Feta Dip
• Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip

Or these Mexican Inspired Recipes:

• Mexican Beef and Rice Casserole
• Chipotle Aioli
• Chile Relleno Breakfast Casserole
• Homemade Crema Mexicana
• Mexican Shrimp Cocktail