This homemade guacamole recipe is a delicious Mexican dip, easy and simple to make in only 10 minutes. You will be guaranteed to make the best guacamole recipe by only using the freshest ingredients. Serve this all time favorite avocado appetizer as a dip, as a spread or as an irresistible topping.
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Made primarily from creamy avocados, guacamole is a flavorful dish that traces its origins back to the Aztecs.
Did you know that Mexico is the world’s largest producer of avocados, contributing around 30% to the global supply?
Today, avocados are available year-round in most parts of the world where guacamole has become a beloved party dip and a popular crowd-pleaser at gatherings, thanks to its fresh, zesty taste and versatility.
Guacamole ingredients
- Avocado: Use the ripest avocados you can find, which are easier to mash while having a smoother texture and a creamier taste.
- Onion: White and yellow onions are more commonly used in guacamole, however, I prefer using red onions as they are milder in taste but add a colorful touch.
- Roma Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes have firmer and meatier flesh with less seeds and water content, making them the preferred choice for guacamole. You don’t want a watery avocado dip.
- Lime: Fresh lemon or lime juice adds acidity and zest. Fresh lime has a preference over fresh lemon as it’s more authentic Mexican, but using fresh lemon is fine as well. Try to avoid bottled and concentrated lime juice as the taste is different, more pronounced and less bright.
- Chili Pepper: Use a Jalapeño, a serrano or Spanish pepper for some extra heat. Remove the seeds if you prefer the guacamole to be milder, or omit it completely.
- Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds freshness and brightness. Use only fresh cilantro as cilantro seeds have a different flavor profile.
- Salt: Season with flaky sea salt to taste.
How to make guacamole from scratch
Note: All the exact quantities of the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Making guacamole from scratch is quick and easy, as long as you have all the right ingredients at home.
Tip: Make sure the avocados a nice and ripe when making guacamole. So count on buying the avocados in advance as they can still ripen at home before making this dip.
- Prepare the ingredients: Peel and finely dice the onion. Halve the tomatoes, remove the seeds and chop in small dices. Roughly chop the cilantro leaves. Finely dice the chili pepper, but first remove the seeds and membranes if required.
- Cut and mash the avocados: Cut the avocados lengthwise in half and carefully remove the pit with a spoon or knife. Scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a mixing bowl and mash with the back of a fork or a potato masher. Mash the avocado according to your preferred consistency, which can be chunky or mash it very smooth, depending on how you like your guacamole.
- Combine the ingredients: Add the chopped onions, tomatoes and chili or jalapeño pepper. Drizzle with lime or lemon juice, season with salt and stir to combine.
- Season: Taste, then add more seasoning if required.
How to store guacamole
If you want to make a larger batch of guacamole to use over a few days or to prepare it in advance for a single event, here are some tips to store and keep it fresh.
Transfer the guacamole to a container or leave it in the mixing bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap, but ensuring the plastic touches the surface of the dip to avoid oxidation and to stop the guacamole from turning brown. You can store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
However, it’s hard to completely prevent guacamole from turning brown. So it’s best to always make it as fresh as possible. But if you really need to make it in advance, try and prepare it no more than a few hours before serving. Since making guacamole is very quick, there’s no real need to make it in advance.
Another option is to chop the tomatoes, onions, and chili pepper in advance and store them in a sealed container in the fridge. Prepare and mash the avocado just before serving, then mix in the pre-chopped ingredients. Season to taste.
What to eat with guacamole
This Mexican avocado dip can be served in many ways, both authentic and creative:
- As a dip: The most common way to serve this easy guacamole recipe is alongside tortilla chips or nachos for dipping. For a healthier dipping option, consider serving with raw vegetables cut in sticks like carrots, bell peppers, celery or cucumbers.
- As a spread: Use as a spread for sandwiches, wraps or toast.
- As a topping: Serve as a topping with Mexican inspired dishes like tacos, burritos, burrito bowls or nachos. It’s also nice as a topping on meat or chicken dishes.
- On a platter: Serve on a platter with other dip recipes like hummus, roasted pepper hummus, creamy leek dip and baba ganoush.
More Mexican inspired recipes
- Oven baked nachos with beef and cheese
- Mango salsa
- Tomato and onion salad
- Chili con carne
- Mango chicken wraps
Homemade Guacamole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- ½ red onion finely diced
- 1 Roma tomato seeded and finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
- ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped
- 1 Jalapeno or chili pepper
- flaky sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Peel and finely dice the onion. Halve and seed the tomatoes and cut into small dices. Finely dice the chili pepper and chop the cilantro leaves.
- Slice the avocados lengthwise in half and remove the pit. With a spoon, scoop the flesh of the avocados into a mixing bowl.
- Mash the avocado with a fork or potato masher to your desired consistency. It can be chunky or very smooth.
- Add the diced onion, tomatoes, pepper, cilantro, lemon juice and salt in the bowl with the mashed avocado and stir to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning (salt, lemon juice or chili) to taste.
Notes
- Avocado: Make sure the avocado is very ripe, soft but still slightly firm. For this recipe I use a large avocado. If you use a smaller size avocado, rather add more for the same amount.
- Chili pepper: Depending on the heat level of the pepper, remove the seeds according to personal preference.
- Storage: When not using the guacamole immediately, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Ensure the wrap touches the guacamole leaving no air pockets. This will reduce browning.
- Lemon or lime: Lime is the preferred ingredient of choice when making authentic guacamole. But fresh lemon is a great substitute
