Anyone living in the south will most likely sooner or later develop a love of guacamole, I like a little hot sauce with mine, but that is beside the point. There could almost be wars fought about how to make the best guacamole, but here is what I like.
2 ripe avocados, this means soft like a tennis ball. Avoid squishy, and avoid hard.
2 shallots, minced (about 1/2 cup)
1 serrano chile, and 1/2 a habanero pepper stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped, grow this in a garden, its easy.
1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice, squeeze it from the real thing.
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped
Tomatillos can be a nice addition as well.
If this is too spicy leave out the habanero, the 1/2 pepper goes a long way. Season with hot sauce to taste.
METHOD
First, cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds and scoop out the avocado from the peel. Put the avocado in a mixing bowl and using a fork mash the avocado.
Next, add the chopped shallots, cilantro, lime, salt and pepper and mash some more, until fully mixed.
Chili peppers vary in their heat, so if you are timid start slowly. Handling peppers can be dangerous, so be careful and wash your hands after use being careful not to touch your eyes
Set the tomatoes aside until you are ready to serve they do not mix well.
Adjust this recipe to your particular taste and don’t forget that learning to pick the perfect avocado is the most important part of the process. I also believe that adding the right hot sauce is another critical step.
Before serving add the tomato, I like to put it on the top and not mix it in.
Variations and other quick recipes:
Short on time and big on company? Mix 2 avocados with 1/2 cup of salsa. Not as good as the above recipe, but still very good.
Adding sour cream or plain yogurt can stretch your short avocado supply.
I also like to garnish with cheddar cheese or refried beans. And, never forget your hot sauce when eating guacamole.