Guacamole

While I was in Arizona last week I indulged in all kinds of delicious treats, some healthier than others, but that's ok, I was on holiday's...right? One snack I ate a lot of was homemade fresh guacamole, for one because I love it, and two, because my mom had like 20 avocados that had to be eaten! Not only were the avocados delicious, but my mom bought them from a road-side stand for $5! By the time I got around to making this guacamole I think I counted 17 avocados - let's just say, we ate a lot of guacamole. Avocados are a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats, and are surprisingly high in protein, and just for fun- they are actually a fruit, and a single seeded berry at that! 

Here are the ingredients - I don't follow a strict recipe as I taste test it as I make it ;) 

2-3 avocados 

1 lime (a lemon will work too) 

Onion - white, yellow or red will work, and add as much or as little as you like 

Handful of cilantro 

Jalapeno or habanero pepper 

Garlic 

Salt and pepper 

Olive oil - this is optional, depending how thick you want your guacomole 

Directions: 

Halve the avocados, slice them (while the flesh is stil in the peel) and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, then squish it with a fork until it reaches your desired consistency, dice your onion very finely, chop your cilantro, and either finely dice the garlic or you can use a microplane (a tiny grater for things like garlic and ginger), and dice your hot pepper (seeds removed) and combine all ingredients. Add the lime juice, olive oil,  salt and pepper to your desired taste and consistency. Serve with veggies for a really healthy snack or tortilla chips (if I know I am going to eat my guacamole with salted tortilla chips I omit the salt in the recipe because the chips are usually so salty there is no need to add anymore). 

Ways to spice up your guacamole: 

-I often add tomatoes to my guacamole - this makes it like a guacamole and pico de gallo (chunky fresh salsa) dip in one 

-I have tried a guacamole with pomagranate - and it was delicious! 

-Black beans would be great to add

-I often add corn to my fresh salsa, and I think it would taste great in guacamole too 

The options really are endless- this is a great base recipe to use, don't be scared to be creative! 

-M