Guacamole – How to make awesome guac

Many people are intimidated by guacamole. Here’s the Heymanator, sure-fire method of getting awesome guacamole every time.

1. Start with good avocados, typically Haas, and they should be ripe (i.e., soft). We have had great luck with Costco avocados.
2. Half the avocados, seed them, and scoop them into a bowl with a flat surface.
3. Mash them up until they are relatively smooth. I like to use a potato masher (hence the flat bottom).
4. Here’s the secret. Add lime juice, more than you think you’ll need; salt, more than you think you need, and freshly ground pepper. Mix well and taste. Your avocados should be seasoned to taste before you add any other ingredients.
5. Add in minced onion and small diced tomatoes. (You can rinse the onions under water to deflame them and get rid of that hot raw onion taste.) For two avocados, I usually add half a medium onion and one medium tomato. You want the ripest, most flavorful tomato possible.
6. Taste again and add more lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
7. Eat.

Optional ingredients

• Cilantro: some people love it
• Mayonnaise: helps make it smoother, but it’s not necessary if you followed step 1 and 3.
• Other spices: garlic, cumin, coriander, diced jalapeño, diced serranos, cayenne pepper, whatever

Oh, and please use fresh lime juice from real (small, thin-skinned) limes whenever possible.