Messico · Spuntino · Facile
Guacamole
Chunky avocado with chilli, onion, coriander and lime, made in a molcajete
Ripe Hass avocado mashed into a ground paste of serrano chilli, white onion, coriander and coarse salt, finished with tomato and lime. Grinding the aromatics first spreads their flavour evenly while the avocado stays chunky.
- Energia
- 180 kcala porzione
- Preparazione
- 15 min
- Cottura
- 0 min
- Proteine
- 2.6 g
Com'è venuta?
Attrezzatura
- Molcajete (stone mortar) or a sturdy bowl and fork
- Chef's knife and chopping board
- Large spoon
- Small sieve
- Citrus squeezer
Prima di iniziare
- Check the avocados: they should yield to gentle pressure near the stem, like a ripe peach.
- Finely chop the onion and the coriander.
- Seed and dice the tomato, then let it drain on a paper towel.
- Juice the lime.
Procedimento
-
Mellow the onion
40 g white onionPut the chopped onion in a small sieve, rinse under cold water and leave it to drain for 5 minutes.
È pronto quando The onion smells mild rather than sharp and no water drips from the sieve.
Consiglio Rinsing removes the harsh sulphur bite that otherwise grows stronger as the guacamole sits.
-
Grind the paste
40 g white onion1 serrano chilli10 g coriander (cilantro)3 g coarse saltChop the chilli finely. In the molcajete, grind half of the onion, the chilli, half of the coriander and the salt with the pestle for 1–2 minutes.
È pronto quando A wet, bright-green paste forms, the salt crystals have dissolved and the coriander smells strong.
Consiglio The coarse salt acts as an abrasive. Without a molcajete, mash everything with the flat of a knife on a board.
-
Open the avocados
3 ripe Hass avocadosHalve the avocados lengthwise, twist them apart and remove the stones. Scoop the flesh out with a large spoon, cutting away any dark or stringy spots.
È pronto quando The flesh is uniformly pale green to yellow and gives way easily under the spoon.
-
Mash coarsely
3 ripe Hass avocadosAdd the avocado to the paste and mash with the pestle or a fork, folding the paste through as you go.
È pronto quando Mostly creamy with plenty of pea-sized chunks left; the paste is streaked evenly through.
Consiglio Stop early. Guacamole should be chunky, not a smooth purée.
-
Fold in the rest
100 g ripe tomato40 g white onion10 g coriander (cilantro)Fold in the tomato and the rest of the onion and coriander with a spoon, without mashing further.
È pronto quando Flecks of red tomato, white onion and green coriander are visible throughout.
-
Season
1 lime3 g coarse saltSqueeze in half of the lime juice, stir once and taste. Add more lime or a pinch more salt until it tastes bright and well seasoned.
È pronto quando The guacamole tastes fresh and lively, with the lime noticeable but not sour.
-
Serve right away
Pile the guacamole into the molcajete or a bowl and serve within 30 minutes.
È pronto quando The surface is still bright green with no grey film.
Consiglio If it has to wait, press cling film directly onto the surface so no air touches it.
Errori comuni
The guacamole is watery.
Rimedio The tomato went in with its seeds and juice. Seed it and let the dice drain before folding in.
It turns grey quickly.
Rimedio Air oxidises the avocado. Make it close to serving and press cling film onto the surface; the lime helps but does not stop it.
It tastes flat.
Rimedio Not enough salt or acid. Add salt and lime a little at a time and taste with a chip, which is itself salty.
It is stringy or bitter.
Rimedio The avocados were underripe or bruised. Use ones that yield gently and cut away any dark spots.
Come servire
Serve in the molcajete with warm corn tortilla chips, or as a topping for tacos, grilled meat or eggs. Corn tortillas keep it gluten-free; check chip packets for wheat.
Conservazione e riscaldamento
Best within 30 minutes. Leftovers keep up to 1 day in the fridge in a small container with cling film pressed onto the surface; scrape off any grey layer before serving.
Da preparare in anticipo
Grind the chilli paste and dice the tomato up to 4 hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. Open and mash the avocados only just before serving.
Varianti
Without tomato
Many cooks in central Mexico leave the tomato out for a richer, purer avocado flavour. Use an extra tablespoon of onion instead.
Smoky
Replace the serrano with 1 chipotle in adobo, chopped. The guacamole turns slightly orange and smoky.
With pomegranate
Fold in 3 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds instead of the tomato, a festive version from Puebla.
