This may not come as quick as Chipotle’s, but now you can bring something other than beer (but make sure to have that) to your friend’s Super Bowl party this weekend. The green Mexican dip has invaded American culture in the past decade, earning its spot on the counter next to the salsa and ranch. Besides being the key ingredient in guacamole, avocados are eaten in sandwiches, salads or simply straight out of the skin. For the health-conscious, it’s high in mono-saturated fats and fiber, and if you think bananas are good, these “alligator pears” have more potassium, gram per gram.
Types of Avocados
With seasonal varieties, grocery stores tend to stock different types of avocados during different months. There is, however, one year-round avocado that most restaurants end up using: the Hass avocado from southern California. To determine an avocado’s ripeness, look for the dark-green skinned ones (but not black) and squeeze. If the avocado yields to gentle pressure, it’s ready to be cut open.
Prep
First, dice the onion and tomato into small cubes so they’re easy to pick up with a chip. Next, throw the pits away and scoop the avocado flesh out with a spoon and put it into your mixing bowl.
How to Mash
I suggest using a fork for this. You want to end with a smooth consistency, but still have sizable chunks of whole avocado interspersed for taste. Throw in the diced tomato and onion and stir. Add the salt, pepper, garlic seasoning and hot sauce (Tabasco is my personal preference) depending on your tolerance. Before serving, squeeze a few drops of lime or lemon juice to keep the avocado from browning. If avocado is left in the air for too long, it turns brown and looks unappetizing (but tastes the same). The acidity of the lime helps reduce that.
Alternative ingredients
If you want to skip the dicing part, simply pour in some salsa to take care of the tomato, onion and spice. But be wary, watery salsa may make the guacamole runny. For the adventurous, throw in corn or black beans if you have either on hand. And if you want to make it really exciting, mix in feta cheese crumbles for a creamy, cheesy twist. Trust me.
Serve with tortilla chips and watch Manning dismantle the Saints’ secondary.