How to Make Guacamole

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Last updated on January 11th, 2022 at 12:57 pm

Guacamole is like ordering ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. You mash up the avocados and then you get to choose all of your mix-ins. And while the base itself is really good, the mix-ins help determine how it all comes together. This is how to make guacamole in the best way possible.

For the basic ingredients, we start with avocados, lime juice, and salt. That is really how to make a simple guacamole. This gives you a creamy delicious dip that pairs with almost anything. But if you want a little more excitement with your guac, add in some flavor and wow factor.

I highly recommend getting your avocados a few days before you will need to use them. Straight from the grocery store they are typically still not quite ripe and wouldn’t make the perfect guac. They might even be too hard to even attempt mashing. Countertop ripening is really the best method, but it is the slowest. Place them in a brown paper bag to let them breathe but keep them in a semi-enclosed space. If you really need to speed up the ripening, introduce a banana or apple to the paper bag.

And if your avocados are ripe and you’re not quite ready to use them, then stick them in the fridge where they’ll stay for 1 to 3 days before going overripe. Fun fact – at one point avocados were referred to as alligator pears. Go figure.

Guacamole Mix-Ins

Like I said before, the mix-ins are what truly define how to make guacamole. You can tailor it to the tastes, preferences, and dietary restrictions of anyone enjoying the dip. Experiment a little and you can even discover your own true signature guacamole mix. You can even serve the guacamole surrounded by all of the different options for people to mix their own.

The first time I really saw a guacamole addition that blew my mind was ordering tableside guac at Mi Dia. The server mixing it up fresh for us asked the spice level we wanted and went through all of the mix-in options. When he asked if we wanted to include bacon I was confused. I had never had bacon in guacamole before and for some reason, it seemed strange. But then we tried it. I have added bacon to like 75% of my homemade batches since.

Of all the options out there, here are the flavor additions that I recommend the most: hot sauce (I prefer Cholula), tomatoes, salsa, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, crispy chopped bacon, garlic, peppers (jalapeno most commonly), corn, cilantro, and pineapple.

So look that list over and decide what you think sounds like the most winning combination. Also, consider quickly char-roasting any of the vegetables you might add to the guacamole. It will add a great depth of flavor. You can toss the veggies on the grill or throw them under the broiler on high for just a few minutes.

What to Pair

Guacamole makes for the perfect party dip. Pair it with salsa and cream cheese dill dip for an ultimate triple-dipping spread. This is great for parties, small get-togethers, or even just to have out as an after-school snack.

For dipping use any of the following: tortilla chips, pita chips, pita bread, sliced sweet peppers, carrot sticks

You can use guacamole as a sort of appetizer dip, but it can also be used as a side or topping for a variety of dishes. For these dishes, guacamole is no longer the star of the show, but an accompaniment to transform the dish into the best that it can taste.

For topping, try any of these dishes: enchiladas, burgers, tacos, omelets, southwest salad, tortilla soup, quesadillas

However you use the guac, know that you can mix it up with exactly what you want. Just keep in mind that if you use every single mix in that I have listed, you may need a little more avocado with your toppings.

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