You know the delicious guacamole they make fresh at your table at your favorite Mexican restaurant with bright green avocados and freshly squeezed lime juice? This is it! Well, without the nightshades, and you can make it yourself at home.
This guacamole recipe is a staple in my house. Serve it as a dip with a plate of baby carrots, cucumber sticks, or your favorite chips or crackers. You can also use it to add more flavor and healthy fats to some of your favorite dishes like tacos, nachos, and wraps, or on top of salads, seafood, and soups.
The recipe calls for ripe avocados, lime juice, red onion, cilantro, salt, and onion powder. It’s quick and easy to make and since it’s nightshade-free (without tomatoes or jalapenos), it is AIP-friendly as well.
How to select the best avocados for guacamole
The secret to making the perfect guacamole is using avocados with just the right ripeness. When pressing or gently squeezing the avocado, if it is hard as a rock or barely gives, it isn’t ripe yet and you will have difficulty cutting into and mashing it. If it is super soft, it is likely too ripe and it won’t taste right. If there is a little give, it is likely just right. When you cut into the avocado, you will want to see a bright green color. If you see brown spots, it’s too ripe. If you are buying avocados and don’t plan to use them for a few days, you can buy them a little firmer to give them time to ripen up. I will often buy a few avocados with different levels of firmness so I can grab one with the right amount of ripeness when I need it.
Easy Guacamole
Ingredients
- 1 Large Avocado or 2 Small Avocados
- Fresh Juice From 1/2 of a Lime
- 1/4 Medium Red Onion Diced
- 1-2 TBSP Fresh Cilantro Finely Chopped
- 1/2 TSP Salt To Taste
- 1 TSP Onion Powder To Taste
Instructions
- Slice open the avocado and remove the pit. Using a spoon, gently scrape the avocado into a medium sized bowl. Mash the avocado using a fork until the desired thickness. If you like it chunky, gently smash it. If you like it smoother, mash until there aren’t any more lumps.
- Slice the lime in half and add the juice from half of the lime into the bowl. This juicer works well. Add the salt and onion powder and mix together. Set aside.
- Dice the red onion and add it to the bowl.
- Rinse and pat the fresh cilantro dry and chop it into small pieces. Use the leaves and stems. Add it to the bowl and gently stir until all ingredients are combined well.
- Time for a taste test. Start with the recipe and adjust to your taste. Add additional seasonings to our liking, including garlic powder if tolerated.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of diced red onion or a sprig of fresh cilantro.
- Serve fresh and enjoy!
Notes
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight glass food storage container in the fridge.
- Avoid nightshades like tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and black pepper to keep it AIP-friendly.
- Use AIP-friendly chips like these plantain chips or cassava chips.
