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Mexican recipe

How to make Guacamole

Central and southern Mexico, from Aztec times

Guacamole
Photo: Nikodem Nijaki, CC BY-SA 3.0

Ripe avocado mashed with lime juice, onion, chilli, coriander (cilantro) and salt, traditionally in a stone bowl called a molcajete. It is eaten with tortilla chips or served with tacos.

Serves 4 15 min

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Half a small white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 green serrano or jalapeño chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped
  • A small handful of coriander (cilantro), chopped
  • 1 ripe tomato, seeds removed, chopped (optional)
  • Salt

Method

  1. Cut the avocados in half, remove the stones and scoop the flesh into a bowl.
  2. Mash with a fork, leaving it a little chunky.
  3. Stir in the lime juice, onion, chilli, coriander and tomato, and season with salt.
  4. Taste and add more lime or salt if needed. Wash your hands well after handling chillies and do not touch your eyes.
  5. Serve straight away with tortilla chips, as the avocado darkens after a while.
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The name comes from the Nahuatl word āhuacamōlli, which means 'avocado sauce'.

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