Homemade Guacamole

How to make the best guacamole in less than five minutes.

Homemade Guacamole

When friends come over, we have a few recipes we always go to. This five-minute guacamole is one of those staples. It’s easy, it’s fresh and no matter what else we serve with it, it’s always the first to go.

WATCH: Our quick recipe video sharing how to make guacamole.

How to Make Guacamole

There are two things to keep in mind when making guacamole. First, only use ripe avocados. We cannot tell you how many times we’ve come home from the store with a big bag of avocados and had to wait one, two, maybe three days before they are ripe. So plan ahead.

How to Make the Best Guacamole

TIP: How to Choose, Prepare and Store Avocados

Most avocados you’ll find at the store will be under ripe or over and neither are good for this guacamole recipe. You’ll know when an avocado is ripe when it gives just slightly when squeezed. If unripe, don’t store them in the fridge. You want to keep them at room temperature until ripe.

Ingredients for guacamole

Second, don’t over mash or puree avocados to make guacamole. You want a chunky dip, not completely smooth. When you’re making the guacamole, gently mash things together and leave some texture.

Homemade Guacamole

  • PREP
  • TOTAL

Most avocados you’ll find at the store will be under ripe or over and neither are good for this guacamole recipe. You’ll know when an avocado is ripe when it gives just slightly when squeezed. If unripe, don’t store them in the fridge. You want to keep them at room temperature until ripe. (For more about how to buy, cut and store avocados see our tutorial).

The lime (or lemon juice) is optional — I really love the zing it adds, but it isn’t 100% required at all. Try the guacamole before adding to see what is best for your tastes.

Makes 4 to 5 servings

You Will Need

2 ripe Hass avocados

1/2 teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper, or more, to taste

3 tablespoons chopped onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice, optional

Directions

    1In a medium bowl, mortar or a Mexican molcajete (lava stone mortar), thoroughly mash half of the onion with the jalapeño and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to make a paste.

    2Cut avocados in half. Remove the seed then scoop the avocado into the bowl with a spoon. Add the remaining onion as well as the cilantro, and gently mash everything together. Season with lime juice and more salt if desired.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

AUTHOR: Adam Gallagher
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13 comments… Leave a Review
  • Debora Hayter October 3, 2020, 3:41 pm

    Your blog post gives me good inspiration. Thanks

    Reply
  • Monica Diane Hayes July 14, 2020, 11:09 am

    Great recipe.. I however added a tad of cumin to give it the restaraunt style taste. That’s just what my family likes.

    Reply
  • jak schudnac szybko July 8, 2014, 10:39 pm

    When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is
    added I get three e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way
    you can remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Joanne August 7, 2014, 1:19 pm

      Hi there, take a look in the emails you receive, there should be an unsubscribe from updates option.

      Reply
  • Sonja June 28, 2014, 5:59 pm

    Hi Adam and Joanne, love your website…so glad I found you so I can save you in my favourites. Question…how do you save onions? Every time I buy a small bag of yellow onions, they always go soft rather quickly. granted, I don’t use the 5 or 6 in the first week, but should I not buy a bag as apposed to one at a time? I’ve wanted to ask this question for years and now I’m asking you…what’s your opinion?
    thanks and love your recipes!

    Reply
    • Joanne August 8, 2014, 11:22 am

      Hi Sonja, We usually store our onions out of the bag in the fridge (in one of the drawers). They like cool, dry areas.

      Reply
  • Kelly December 1, 2013, 10:33 pm

    Love a simple, pure guacamole. Shallots are great alternatives to onions also.

    Reply
  • Missy December 13, 2012, 4:58 am

    Love this so much! Interesting tid bit: If you put the leave the pits in the mix, it will slow any browning that may occur sitting in a serving dish.

    Reply
  • Riley September 9, 2012, 11:19 am

    I didnt know guacamole had such a lively history. Good recipe, I think I’ll add a little garlic to mine though, I like that extra kick.

    Reply
    • Joanne September 10, 2012, 11:35 am

      Thanks! Garlic would be a great addition!

      Reply
  • Beverly Lynn February 17, 2010, 10:22 am

    Lumpy guac is my favorite!

    Reply
  • Nick February 6, 2010, 8:46 am

    This is really close to Guacamole my wife and I make. We use a little more onion, and a clove or two of garlic, and usually only use lime juice. I agree tomatoes just don’t add anything but volume to Guacamole.

    Reply
  • bonnie February 6, 2010, 8:17 am

    What amazingly pretty photos! Not easy…

    Reply

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