By Martha Rose Shulman
Updated March 5, 2024
- Total Time
- 10 minutes
- Rating
- 5(610)
- Notes
- Read community notes
Everybody loves guacamole, and everyone has an opinion as to what an authentic guacamole should be. I leave it up to you whether to add onion and chile — but please don’t make it in a food processor. Guacamole should have texture; use a fork or a mortar and pestle to mash the avocados.
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Ingredients
Yield:Makes about 1½ cups
- ½small red onion, minced optional
- 3ripe Haas avocados
- 1medium ripe tomato, chopped
- Juice of 1 to 2 limes, to taste
- 1small garlic clove, minced
- ¼teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
- 1small serrano chile, seeded and minced optional
- Salt, preferably kosher salt, to taste
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
173 calories; 15 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 337 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
For the Guacamole
Step
1
If you are including onion in your guacamole, place the onion in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Soak for five minutes, then drain, rinse and dry on paper towels.
Step
2
Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits and scoop out the flesh. Mash in a mortar and pestle or with a fork. Do not use a food processor. Add the chopped tomatoes and lime juice, and continue to mash. Stir in the onion, garlic, cumin, chile and salt to taste. Taste and adjust seasonings. If not using right away, cover with plastic, placing it directly on top of the guacamole. Stir before serving to restore the green color.
Tip
- Advance preparation: Both of these dips are best served the day they are made.
Ratings
5
out of 5
610
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Cooking Notes
miriam
Added cilantro too to kick up flavor and cut back avocados to two.
Susan Cannell
I use a box grater to grate the onion. It breaks the onion down into tiny particles and onion juice.
Cooker
I used a potato masher to get just the right consistency. Did not have tomato or cumin but the recipe still received rave reviews.
Jo Matthews
I added fresh coriander in it and only used 2 avocados (with 3 it would've been a little bit too bland for my taste) It was perfect. I really like this recipe, you can actually add a bit more red onion + garlic, if you really like those types of flavors in you guac.
hikergirl
I used chilli powder instead of the Serrano Chile. This was a very flavourful dish. Make again (note to self)!
Portland
There are definitely better guacamole recipes. I was disappointed in this one and will not make it again.
Brantley C.
Not sure why they make the distinction of a "small" red onion. In this quantity, even half of the biggest red onion you could find isn't going to be too much.
Angela
This is a good, solid guacamole. I used Aleppo pepper flakes, because I didn’t have any fresh peppers on hand. Fresh cilantro would be good, but it’s great without it. Instead of rinsing and drying the onion, I put it in the lime juice to lightly pickle while I prepped the other ingredients and it worked great.
Guachead
Real Guacamole does not have tomatoes in it.
mods
Add cilantro
April
A little more garlic and cumin makes this sing!
Kim P
Mashed two cloves of garlic with a tsp of kosher salt in the mortar & pestle, and used lemon juice because that’s what I had. No tomatoes for me, but I didn’t miss them because this was fantastic, simple food!
Ann
I used a potato masher to get just the right consistency. cilantro
Andrew
Way too much lime. I would recommend juicing only 1/2 a lime for this recipe. Add cilantro as well.
Shelley
Curious that there was no fresh cilantro in this recipe to tried as written the first time. It was quite good but ... lacked something. Second time, added the cilantro. Much better!That suggestion to try seasoned rice vinegar instead of lime juice is intriguing. May try it but don't think I'd call it guac ;)
My Bike Betty
Happened to only have a pickled serrano pepper (don’t ask) and it gave the whole thing a little extra tang!
Vivien
Next time add a little more lime and a couple glugs hot sauce. Leave out onions. Very good with 2 avocados and Wegman’s pineapple salsa. Andrew likes it chunkier,too.
JW
Did not have a tomato but added two heaping tablespoons of salsa and it tasted great!
Cooking My Way Though NYT Cooking
Very good guacamole. Easy to make. Unfortunately we have no lime so had to substitute with a lemon but it still came out great. We make half with spices and half without for the kids.Always make it on quesadilla night.
Susan Cannell
I use a box grater to grate the onion. It breaks the onion down into tiny particles and onion juice.
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