Avocado guacamole recipes: classic and original options
Among gourmets and fans of Mexican cuisine, an avocado dish called guacamole is very popular. This product has a very interesting taste and is not as difficult to prepare as it might seem at first glance. But before you start creating this dish, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with all the options for its recipes in more detail.
History of appearance
Guacamole belongs to the category of cold appetizers. Its name indicates that the recipe for making the sauce was invented in ancient times. The original word Ahuacamolli is formed by adding the words Ahuacati, which means “avocado” in Russian, and molli, which means “sauce”.
The avocado itself entered the diet, according to legend, back in the days of the Mayan Aztecs. Prior to this, this fruit was considered inedible. However, the princess of the Mayan people became the first person to taste this fruit. After that, she experienced enlightenment, was endowed with a long life, youth and beauty that was passed on to subsequent generations.
The place where the mention of avocados was first found is the Mexican state of Puebla. There, for the first time, images of this fruit were found on the walls of caves and ancient dishes. The estimated date of the beginning of fruit cultivation is 1500 BC.Throughout the history of cultivation of these plants, the territory of their cultivation spread, gradually including various states of America, later it appeared in Spain, Israel, Chile, Australia and other countries. Even in Russia, this fruit is grown, but not on an industrial scale.
Guacamole sauce has been a common dish since ancient times, when the avocado itself appeared. A similar dish is evidenced by the historical notes of the Spanish conquerors, who called the product a gift from God. The god Quetzalcoatl, according to legend, told people about the recipe for this dish even before the advent of the Aztec tribes, and this recipe subsequently began to be passed down as a divine heritage.
The Mexicans for a long time kept secret all the ingredients that are included in guacamole. The Spaniards managed to only approximately recognize the ingredients of this dish, but the Mexicans did not report the exact proportions to create the perfect taste.
They prepared guacamole with a pestle and a special stone mortar. The fruits were mashed to a puree consistency, but their color was preserved, and the structure was slightly heterogeneous - small pieces of pulp remained not mashed. Then peppers, tomatoes were ground in a mortar, lime juice, herbs and salt were added to the mixture.
Thanks to this cooking method, the Mexicans retained all the most useful properties of the product, since during the cooking process the avocado was not subjected to oxidation and contact with metal appliances.
Peculiarities
The avocado product itself contains many useful components, each of which has a positive effect on the state of the body. The main components of the fetus are:
- Copper, potassium, magnesium and iron help to improve the condition of bone and muscle tissues, and also have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
- Lutein is a necessary component for the retina.
- A high concentration of oleic acid in combination with vitamin E is of great benefit in malignant tumors, such as breast cancer.
- Glutathione has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. This element will also actively be useful for the prevention of diseases such as sclerosis.
- The product can even affect mood, because it helps the body produce the hormone of happiness - serotonin.
- The concentration of proteins and vegetable fats in the composition of the avocado makes it quite satisfying. This property popularizes the fruit among vegetarians, because for them it is an excellent analogue of dairy and meat products.
Before preparing guacamole, it is useful to familiarize yourself with the function of each product in this dish. Avocado is the main ingredient. If now it has a number of useful properties listed above, then in more ancient times this fruit was also endowed with the property of an aphrodisiac.
Lime juice is necessary for this dish to preserve the color of the fruit included in it and prevent oxidation processes. If the avocado pulp is not sprinkled with lemon or lime juice, then during oxidation the product loses its beneficial properties, changes color and even taste.
Salt is needed to spice up the dish. The taste of the fruit itself can be a little bland, so salt is added to it to taste.
It is also important to consider the compatibility of avocado sauce with other products.Sometimes guacamole is served as an independent cold appetizer, but most often this dish complements others.
The simplest use of the sauce is to pair it with nachos and beer. In America, such an ensemble is considered a classic. An alternative to cornmeal chips is rye or wheat bread cut into thin squares and dried. You can even use Armenian lavash, which is baked in the oven with olive oil. You can combine avocado sauce with a popular fast food in America - french fries.
In Mexico, this dish goes well with meat and vegetable dishes or tortillas. In addition, guacamole is suitable for various side dishes, fish and other seafood. Those who are on a diet can replace flour and fried foods with fresh vegetables. They also go great with guacamole.
cooking secrets
Guacamole is such a dish, with the preparation of which you can experiment in every possible way. Such a sauce is interpreted differently in different countries of the world, includes many ingredients and has original flavors.
All recipes are based on the classic version of guacamole. To prepare it you will need:
- avocado;
- salt;
- lime;
- tomatoes;
- cilantro;
- chilli;
- onion;
- garlic;
- spices and herbs.
Making this dish is very easy. The main thing is to grind the pulp of the avocado (the part without the pit and peel), mix with citrus juice and salt, and then add all the other ingredients. They should be cut into small pieces.
A variation of the classic recipe is a dish that includes sour cream and olive oil. For two avocados, you need to take one and a half tablespoons of sour cream and one tablespoon of oil.Sometimes cream and even yogurt become an alternative to sour cream. A little oil should be added at the very end.
In America, for the first time, mayonnaise was added to guacamole. This ingredient makes the product even more high-calorie, adds spice to it, but at the same time, mayonnaise interferes with the taste of the main component.
The amount of salt and pepper in guacamole is determined by the characteristics of the place of its preparation. If Americans prefer to make a more salty sauce, then Mexicans love a spicy dish.
After such an appetizer spread throughout Europe, new ingredients began to be added to its composition, which gave guacamole some resemblance to Mediterranean cuisine sauces. In Spain, they cook a similar pasta with garlic. Olive oil is often used as an additional ingredient in Europe, which helps to add flavor and richness to the dish. As a mark of respect for the country of origin of the avocado dish, ingredients such as cariander and black pepper are added to it.
Thanks to various combinations of seasonings and spices, it is possible to give the product different flavors.
Traditional American Guacamole is made with the following ingredients:
- 2 avocados;
- 100 grams of lightly salted salmon;
- 1 lime;
- salt to taste;
- red caviar and greens for decoration;
- nachos or tartlets.
To prepare this dish, you need to cut the avocado into 2 equal parts, peel it and remove the stone. Fruits are cut into small cubes, the fish is also crushed. Next, the ingredients are mixed in a blender along with lime juice and salt. The resulting sauce can be divided into tartlets or served in one bowl if used in combination with corn chips.
In order for any version of the sauce to be prepared correctly, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances related not only to the cooking process itself, but also to the choice of products for the future dish.
- The fruits themselves must be ripe. This sign is the key to delicious pulp and delicate texture of guacamole. Only the fruit that is soft to the touch, but at the same time elastic, goes into the dish. When you press the skin of such a fruit, a dent is formed, but it should straighten itself after a few seconds, otherwise the avocado is overripe. Also choose fruits with no visible damage to the skin.
- Consider the desired consistency. To some extent, the flavor nuances of the dish will depend on it. You can use a blender to create a homogeneous mass that will be more liquid. It is also acceptable to simply chop the ingredients finely to make the appetizer thick.
- If you add mayonnaise to the dish, then make sure that it is fresh. It also needs to be whipped in a blender. Usually the amount of mayonnaise is calculated by the number of avocados. One tablespoon is taken per fruit.
A very original recipe for an appetizer with bacon. For three fruits, you need five strips of bacon, a couple of chili peppers, a tomato, a little onion, greens and a lime. Bacon must be placed in the oven until golden brown. It is necessary to cut the onion and chili pepper, and then mix these components with herbs.
Next, the pulp of the avocado is added to the ingredients. An important step is the addition of a tomato. After removing the skin from it, it is necessary to remove the watery part along with the seeds, and everything else is cut into cubes into the total mass. After that, lime juice is squeezed out.
Fried bacon must be cut into small pieces and also added to the sauce. At the end, you just need to add salt and mix the composition.
Tips from eminent chefs
Many world-famous chefs have their own take on making avocado sauce. Some masters shared their signature recipes and secrets. One such chef is Jamie Oliver. According to his approach, the main components of guacamole are:
- 1 chili pepper;
- 2 leeks;
- 2 avocados;
- 5 cherry tomatoes;
- 1 teaspoon mustard;
- 2 limes;
- 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil;
- 1/2 bunch cilantro.
Preparation is carried out as follows:
- Chop the cilantro, onion (white parts) and chili pepper and place in a bowl.
- The pulp of the avocado is mashed and added to the vegetables and then sprinkled with lime juice.
- A teaspoon of mustard and salt should be added to all ingredients, mix thoroughly and pour in olive oil.
- Cherry tomatoes are used as a garnish for the dish. When it is laid out in serving dishes, the tomatoes are cut into quarters and stacked on top of the sauce.
One of the famous culinary specialists of the USA and Japan, Alan Wong, offers a different option for preparing an avocado snack. The composition of the dish includes the ingredients:
- 2 avocados;
- salt;
- 100 grams of garlic;
- 100 grams of tomatoes;
- 3 tablespoons of sake;
- 100 grams of white onion;
- 1 tablespoon chopped chili pepper;
- 50 grams of green onions;
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil;
- 2 tablespoons lime juice;
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro;
- 2 tablespoons minced ginger.
Avocado should be cut without using a blender. The pulp should not have a uniform mashed consistency. Onions, garlic, green onions, ginger and chili peppers should be chopped with a fine grater.All components should be mixed together.
Sake not only gives this variation of guacamole a peculiar flavor, but also allows you to store the cooked dish in the refrigerator for two days.
How to cook classic guacamole, see the following video.