Remember those locally grown avocados I received? They ripened up just in time for Cinco de Mayo and I put them to use in “Cheater’s” Guacamole.
It’s hard to even call this a “recipe, and no one will ever suspect you didn’t hand slice and dice all your spices.
I’ve mentioned my guacamole recipe and called it “Cheater’s” Guac before, but figured the photo quality could use some sprucing up. Plus, I had avocados to use up.
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“Cheater’s” Guacamole
1 ripe avocado
1 tbsp lime juice (or lemon if that’s what you have on hand)
1 tbsp Mrs. Dash seasoning blend (I use the Griller’s Blend but use your fave or other seasoning blend, i.e TJs Salute Seasoning, McCormick seasonings, or old fashioned garlic, cumin, onions, cilantro, etc.)
1 tsp salt, or to taste
Directions:
Peel the avocado and scoop out the flesh. Add all ingredients into a bowl, mash avocado with a fork, and stir/mash until everything is combined, while retaining some texture. Serve immediately.
Notes & Tips: If you like chilled guacamole, take an already ripe avocado that’s been refrigerated in advance, and then make the guac. However, don’t try to ripen avocados in the fridge. They need to ripen on the countertop.
Avocados oxidize (turn brown) when exposed to air. There is nothing you can do to avoid this entirely but lemon/lime juice helps.
Also, covering unused guac with plastic wrap that’s placed directly on the guac helps.
If you are only using half an avocado, keep the pit in the unused half to reduce oxidation. I’ve also seen people put the whole pit into a bowl of prepared guac in order to reduce oxidation. Being that this recipe takes one minute, it’s not the kind of thing you really need to “make in advance”.
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Lay out your very few ingredients.
Lime juice is probably preferred. But if you have a cute baby Meyer lemon from the preschool teacher’s backyard tree, use that.
You won’t miss chopping all that garlic and raw onions. I sure won’t. I hate garlic and onions!
But in small doses like in the Mrs. Dash and in guacamole, I can embrace stinky veggies and spices.
Mash, mash. 30 seconds later your guac is ready.
Creamy and delicious.
Scott gave me two thumbs on on this one and that’s high praise coming from the man who “doesn’t like avocados”.
Really? Because he sure liked this.
And Skylar loves guac, but she’s my 4 year old garbage disposal. Here she is last summer out at a Mexican restaurant.
She’ll eat anything from chocolate kale chips to raw broccoli to peanut sauce baked tofu.
Chips + Guac = a perfect match for Cindo de Mayo or for summertime parties or just a great snack.
Embrace those healthy fats and get your guac on!
From my previous post about the Super Natural Everyday cookbook review, I am glad the book looked good you and I always enjoy hearing everyone’s cookbook finds and go-to books you can’t live without, too.
Most of all, it was great to read about who wants to write a book or cookbook. I have no idea what the future holds for me. As I said, I never say never. Fun to read about your plans, ideas, and goals, too.
If you’d prefer to use your avocados in a dessert recipe, you could try Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse
You cannot “taste” the avocados. Promise. It fools people, every time. And also is a 5 minute special.
Questions:
1. Do you like guacamole?
Yes!
But I also just love plain, sliced avocados on top of salads. Creamy, rich, perfection.
2. How do you like to prepare your guacamole or do you buy store bought?
I never buy prepared guac in the plastic containers in the store. Knowing what I know, too, about how fast avocados can oxidize, it’s a bit scary to me how they keep the guac in those containers so green!
It’s either full of green food coloring and/or tons of preservatives. I’m thinking there is just no other way.
I’ll make my own, thanks. It only takes a minute after all!
3. Any plans for Cinco de Mayo?
Being that I only live 10 minutes from the Mexican border and it’s 90F out right now (yes major heat wave!), I know that there will be massive fiestas around San Diego this week.
I live in the heart of a fun and hip part of town and the bars are already packed. I can smell the fajitas wafting already. The only thing left is to pour a cold drink or margarita!
However, I won’t be going out because I have to work. Oh well.
Here we were last summer. I’ll just enjoy these memories instead.Happy Cinco de Mayo!
What’s funny is that I love avocado in smoothies, I love your raw chocolate mousse, I love guacamole, but I don’t like avocados by themselves. Like at all. Their taste and texture is just weird plain!
No plans for Cinco de Mayo, although I should make some guac!
I’ve got some avocados on my counter just begging to be used. Think I’ll use 2 for making some Guac that I can eat with Mary’s Crackers. And then use the other 2 for chocolate avo mousse. Yum!
When I can find some great cilantro at the store, I toss it on top of my guac.
I won’t be celebrating Cinco de Mayo, but as it happens I will be getting my legs waxed that day. Maybe the weather will cooperate and warm up a bit ;)
Averie, I have been following your blog for quite some time, but I have to tell you today that your pictures are looking more beautiful than ever! :)
I know you have been reading for ages, and thank you, so much for the compliments and for reading :)
Yum!! I don’t think there’s anything “cheater” about this guac!! :-D
I love anything to do with avocadoes! Whenever I make guac it’s always some sort of cheater recipe, whether it’s mixing avocado with a little salsa or mixing it with a little lime juice, cilantro and garlic salt. Quick, simple, delicious.
Excellent pictures, as usual!
This past weekend I went to a place called Cedar Creek Falls (google it, it’s just south of Ramona, in San Diego) for a hike – it’s a 2 mile hike to a lagoon and waterfall that you can swim in…oh it’s amazing. On the way home, I saw a sign for 18 Haas avo’s for $5! Of course we had to stop, turned out the avo’s are all from Fallbrook and were excess (they’re out every day selling them though) from some farmers crop. Awesome! They were smaller than what you’d find at Vons, but the pits were smaller too…and shoot…18 for $5…I highly suggest you check the hike and the avo stand out! :)
Sorry you have to work on Thursday – you should do yourself a favor and make yourself a whole fruit margarita in the Vita! (Have you seen that recipe? It seriously makes the BEST margs)
havent seen the recipe per se but I can imagine how to do it…would be delish!
your hiking trip sounds awesome and the 18 for $5….WOW!
MMMM. I’m not sure if there is anything better on this earth than homemade chunky guacamole!! I make it myself and will definitely be making some for cinco de mayo!
Unfortunately I have a presentation for school on cinco de mayo, but I’ll be celebrating on Friday instead:)
Thanks for the inspiration!
I love your cheater’s guac recipe — and that baby lemon is so adorable!!!
For guac I usually just mash up an avocado and add a few TBSPs of salsa and mix together. Or, I’ll chop up some onion and a small tomato and mix that in instead. Honestly usually we just eat the mashed avocado and call that guac!
You know I love your choc mousse too — that recipe is the best!
Great article. Any kinds of fruits and vegetables grown locally in the garden adds so much more to the meal. I’ve actually just loaded a post on my own site that shows some of the produce from my own garden, helped along with coffee compost.
Keep up the great work on the site.
Your guac looks so good and simple! I’ll adding it to my Cinco de Mayo menu!
I eat a few avocados as week and suggest the Salt-Free Mrs. Dash in the Tequila Lime flavor. It’s very “Cinco de Mayo” and festive :)
I love guac! My brother is the guac master though, his guac gets better every time he makes it!
Your food photography inspires me! This looks absolutely delicious. It’s Mexican week on my blog as well…I could make every week Mexican week and be pretty happy about it. So jealous of your Cinco de Mayo location!
No way, this is pro-guacamole! Cheater’s guacamole would have to be the icky pureed stuff available at the supermarket. Look, you mashed and stirred! :P
There is nothing more fresh and wonderful than homemade guacamole! This reminds me, I need to get some avocados!
GREAT ez guac “recipe,” averie!
i’ve never bought guac – like you say, so easy to prepare it from scratch, at home. i’ll take sliced avacado, plain, any day – love the texture and flavour. (and non garlic or onions, please, either!).
cinco de mayo is not celebrated at all up here (the first time i heard of it was in aruba). i think we’re too far from the mexican border!
have a great day!
yeah san diego vs. canada…totally in touch with the cinco de mayo action down here :)