Soothing Guacamole
Guacamole can be mashed by hand, but this version uses a blender or food processor.
The trick is not to take it too far.
Aim for a mixture that is fairly smooth while still keeping some pieces of tomato visible. That small textural decision keeps the dip from becoming a uniform paste.
Ingredients
Makes about 1 1/2 cups
- 1/4 tsp fresh green chili, or to taste
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup avocado, chopped
- juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
- salt to taste
Method
Add the chili, garlic, and cilantro to a blender or food processor.
Pulse until finely chopped.
Add the tomato, avocado, citrus juice, and salt.
Blend until the mixture is mostly smooth but still retains a little tomato texture.
Transfer to a bowl and serve with baked tortilla chips or vegetable sticks.
Process the aromatics first
Garlic, chili, and cilantro are chopped before the avocado goes in.
That helps distribute them evenly without forcing the avocado to spend too long in the machine.
Once avocado is overprocessed, the texture can become flatter and more uniform than intended.
Citrus is more than acidity
Lemon or lime sharpens the flavor of the avocado and tomato.
It also gives the dip a fresher finish than salt alone would provide.
The choice between lemon and lime stays open, which is useful because each creates a slightly different character.
Leave some tomato intact
The instruction to keep a few tomato pieces visible is worth following.
Texture gives the guacamole rhythm.
A spoonful that contains both creamy avocado and a small piece of tomato is more interesting than one perfectly smooth puree.
A useful no-waste idea
The guacamole left in the blender can become a quick yogurt-and-water drink.
Whether or not you make that variation, the principle is clever: residue can become the beginning of something else rather than being rinsed away.
Good kitchen economy often starts with noticing what is already there.