What is guacamole?

Guacamole, for those who are unsure, is an avocado-based dish that originates in Mexico. It can be used as a dip, a spread, or as a topping for all manners of things, including tacos, black bean soup and enchiladas. The basic ingredients are, obviously, avocado, red onion, coriander, seasoning and lime juice. Some versions will include finely diced tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream or even broccoli and peas.

Get the recipe for broccomoli here.

How do you make guacamole?

There’s no real trick to guac, but if you’re mashing avos and calling it a day, you might not be reaching your full guacamole potential. Like any good recipe, the difference comes in when you add ingredients that help build flavour. The finely chopped red onion and coriander will do that, as will the diced tomatoes and jalapeños. Remember, acidity is always key, so don’t scrimp on the lime juice and be sure to balance the flavour well with seasoning. Salt and freshly ground black pepper are non-negotiables, but you can also have a little fun here. This seasoning mix from Woolies combines ground chillies, cumin, coriander, onion and garlic flakes, which will add lots of flavour, but you can also mix and match with the spices you have at home. When it comes to combining everything, the ideal guacamole has a bit of texture, so it’s best to mash using a fork. Don’t try and make it in a food processor as you’ll end up with a fine purée and unnecessary washing up.

Get the recipe for ‘gut-healing’ guacamole here.

How to serve guacamole?

Once again, there’s no rocket science here. Serve it as a dip for chips and crudités at your next braai, as a side to tacos or nachos, or even as a base for poached eggs on toast. Essentially, wherever you like avos, guac will work.

Find our step-by-step to making guacamole here: