Recipe: Guacamole

This summer, I’ve been growing tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeño’s in my garden for one reason…to make my favorite summer snack…GUACAMOLE! It is a quick, healthy, homemade snack that is nutritious and delicious. Avocados are the star in this recipe. They are actually considered a fruit and unlike any other fruit, they provide mono- and polyunsaturated fats. These fats, also known as healthy fats, can promote cardiovascular health. Avocados are also considered a complete food because of its vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, few calories, fiber and no cholesterol. They are sodium-free and contain no trans fats. They are also filling because of the dense flesh of the fruit partly related to the content of “healthy fats.” When picking avocados for this recipe, be sure the skin is dark in color and the avocado is soft to the touch indicating that they are ripe. If they are not ripe, a great way to speed up the process is by placing them in a brown paper bag for a couple of days until they are ready.

Guacamole

Ingredients:

4-5 avocados, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2-3 jalapeños, seeds removed and chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Juice of half a lime

Salt to taste

1 tsp Cumin powder

1 tsp Paprika

Directions:

Combine onion, tomato, jalapeños, and garlic in a large bowl and mix well. Add avocados and smash using a spoon while blending all ingredients. Add cilantro, lime, salt, cumin and paprika and continue to mix all ingredients together. Taste test and add additional spices to your taste and satisfaction. For best results, allow guacamole to sit in refrigerator for one hour to allow all flavors to blend.