4.5.09

About Guacamole

More than any other food IN THE WORLD guacamole is an intensely personal experience, and for that reason I am really, really hesitant to post this recipe. But I wanted to say hi to my friend Pete (Hi Pete!) because he mentioned tomatoes (the berries/legal vegetables, not the boobies) this morning and the one thing I will not stand in my guacamole is tomatoes. Because let's face it; unless they are in season and vine-ripened, tomatoes kinda suck. And when you add sucky tomatoes to guacamole they get all watery and sort of ferment in there and UGH.

The truth is that I never really liked guacamole until I started making it myself, and I started making it myself because I just love avocados SO MUCH you guys, and I knew that my love of avocados would be the perfect foundation on which to build a better guacamole. And I did. (For me anyway.)

So I'll go shopping and you can sit back and watch.
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 serrano chile, minced
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped cilantro
  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • Salt and pepper to taste
So here I have my minced and chopped ingredients all in a bowl.



After pitting my avocado, I've gone ahead and diced it into pretty big chunks. And the easiest way to do that is right in the peel with a butter knife, and then using a spoon to scoop it all out into the bowl.



Then it's just a matter of adding the lime juice, salting and peppering, and carefully mixing it all up, making sure to keep the avocados as chunky as possible.



Because simple is best, ya know.

(And now a shout-out to my boys Karl Alzner and Tyler Sloan: YOU GOT THIS SHIT. Make us proud.)

23 comments:

  1. I love guacamole. That looks excellent.

    (My comments on this blog are always the dumbest because I don't know what to say about yummy-looking food besides Homer Simpson-esque "glaaaargh"s.)

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  2. whatever, lady. my POSTS on this blog are always the dumbest because all i know how to do is take pictures and hope the words make sense.

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  3. So, see... I like the avocados smooth, so after I scoop them into the bowl and add lime, I stir with a fork. Then I add 2 cloves pressed garlic, approx. 1 tsp. each ground cumin and hot pepper sauce and stir again. Then, I gently fold in the minced cilantro, which must be finely minced because I don't especially like big leaves in my guac.

    Still, and here is the truth of things, I LOVE guacamole SO much that I've quite honestly never met a guacamole I didn't like. Therefore: make it the way you like best and I will still eat and enjoy it. In fact, you better make a double batch. I'm a good eater. ;)

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  4. See? I pretty much removed all those extra ingredients on purpose so nothing gets in the way of the avocado. I'm obnoxious like that.

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  5. I'm the same as you -- I never liked guac until I started making it myself and now I could eat it with a spoon (um, and maybe have on occassion.) You know what makes a great guacamole add-in? Mango. The flavors just complement each other so well. Highly recommend it.

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  6. Seth will not eat mango, so this will have to be an addition just for the two of us :)

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  7. I may try this because right now, as of this moment, I do not like guacamole. Even though it's fun to say.

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  8. Like Shari, I've never met a guacamole I didn't like. Like MG, I never known what to comment here besides YUM.

    Also, this blog makes me want to be with you in the same place so much it hurts sometimes.

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  9. Jennie! - You should try it! But only if you like avocado. Because if you don't nothing will make you like it. (Also, make sure your avocados are ripe; soft, but not mushy.)

    Abs - So get your job in DC already! We'll have dinner parties LOTS, I promise.

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  10. Oh no, no, no... my son HATES the avocado (please do not strike me dead, I didn't MEAN to bring a pagan child into the world, I swear it!). However, he LOVES guacamole. I can't explain it. I don't make the news, I just report it.

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  11. Kids are crazy like that. I was just telling Seth yesterday the story about how I HATED sour cream growing up until I had a taco supreme from Taco Bell. It was like a sour cream epiphany.

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  12. Also, hmmmmmm... I think shallots and peppers are the 'extra' ingredients, NOT the garlic and the pepper sauce! ;) Still, I will gladly eat your guacamole. Abs, what say, shall we have Kat make the guac for 'Chee weekend? I'll get the shallots and the peppers all ready to go.

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  13. Really? Taco Bell gave you an epiphany? That's hilarious! But honestly? Whatever it takes. Sour cream is one of the universe's best gifts.

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  14. I wish I liked guacamole. Yours looks delicious.

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  15. Whatever, dude, the pictures are AWESOME. I need guacamole so bad right now.

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  16. Although you might want to try throwing some tomatillos into the mix sometime, this totally gets a double thumbs-up from me. Looks a lot like the guacamole my tía used to make, and I have fond memories of her cooking. Mmm mmm.

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  17. I had a sour cream epiphany once, too! In college, I came back from the bar drunk (duh), warmed up some chimichangas and smeared sour cream all over them, even though AT THE TIME I hated sour cream. Then I ate it and it was delicious and YUM sour cream. The end. Hi.

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  18. shari - taco bell is like my favorite food of all time, so i'm really not surprised by the epiphany.

    h!a! - it's okay you don't like guacamole; i still love you :)

    ash - did you know today is cinco de mayo? i think you DOUBLY need guacamole.

    vahid - tomatillos sound awesome. i'll definitely have to try that out.

    jennie - yay for sour cream!

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  19. I shouldn't have come here. This made me so effing hungry.

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  20. This blog is one big elaborate method of making us all fall in love with you, isn't it? I knew it! Damn you and your delicious delicious meals!

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  21. Have I said thank you yet? Thank you. I didnt get to make the awesome ravioli yet, but I will be making it. As well as just about everything else on this blog!

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  22. peefer - please don't leave me!

    GSR - thank you for assuming that my meals are delicious :)

    sarah - you're welcome! and please, if you have any other requests i'm certainly looking for more ideas to steal :)

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  23. I only enjoy cooking when its for him, cause he appreciates it. Boring for one. I will take any recipe you can share regarding venison, as well as anything that excludes mushrooms, garlic and carrots!

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