The Ultimate Handbook
of Guacamole Ingredients

Of the billions of Avocados From Mexico eaten in America every year, most become guacamole. Why? Because guac is so darn good, and it always has been. It started as an Aztec appetizer some 700 years ago, when guacamole ingredients were just avocados, salt, and lime juice. But over time, as more of the world came to realize just how good this stuff is, the ingredients evolved and (dare we say) improved.

 

If you’re brand new to guacamole, your life’s about to get waaaay better. If you’re already a fan, new guac recipes are waiting to be dipped into. Either way, our handbook on guacamole ingredients is a great place to start.

 

Classic Guacamole Ingredients

There’s only one mandatory guacamole ingredient: fresh Avocados From Mexico. Guac without avocado is like queso dip without cheese or orange juice without oranges. It’s the whole point, baby. To create the foundation of your guacamole, grab a ready-to-eat avocado (learn the signs of ripeness here), scoop the good green stuff into a bowl, and mash it with a fork.

 

Then add the other musts:

• Salt: You’ll want at least 1/2 teaspoon per avocado, but season to taste.
• Citrus juice: Typically, lime juice works best, adding some tang while helping prevent your guacamole from turning brown.

 

From there, the sky’s the limit. Everyone’s got their own ideas on which guacamole ingredients are the true classics (and we say there’s no wrong answer), but here’s a list of the most common add-ins you’ll find in guac:

• Cilantro: Skipping this is only acceptable if you’re in the crowd who says cilantro tastes like soap.
• White onion: Diced fine to give your guac some crunch.
• Jalapeño: Add a little bit of spice to your life.
• Garlic: A controversial “classic” guacamole ingredient for some people, but your taste buds don’t lie. Follow their bliss.
• Tomatoes: Not only important for sweet and juicy guacamole, but tomatoes bring a whole new color to the bowl.

 

No matter what you mix into your guacamole, you’ll need something to dip with. You can’t go wrong with good ol’ fashioned tortilla chips, which have been guacamole’s classic salty sidekick for ages. (Are tortilla chips technically guacamole ingredients? We’ll leave that one up to the philosophers.)

 

How to Pair Guacamole Ingredients

The finer art of guacamole creation involves pairing the right ingredients. For instance, a mango and habanero guac sounds fire. Guac with chocolate chips and anchovies, not so much. (But if you perfect it, let us know.)

 

There are a few simple pairings to think about when picking your ingredients:

• Sweet and Spicy: Fruits and hot peppers bring balance to the guacamole. The spicier the pepper, the sweeter your fruit should be. Think serrano-tomatillo, or mango-habanero.
• Cheesy and Crunchy: Boy, nothing beats this combo. Bacon and cotija cheese are one classic way to go. Sweet corn and queso fresco are another.
• Creamy and Fresh: Feta crumbles and strawberry slices? Sounds good to us.

 

Unique Guacamole Ingredients

Throughout history, the most forward-thinking individuals were told, time and time again, to pipe down. Naysayers and doubters never thought we’d generate our own electricity, go to the moon, or make guacamole with caviar. But we did. And it’s delicious.

 

Now is your chance to become a guacamole pioneer and explore the great unknown. The only required ingredient of guacamole is mashed avocado — the rest is limited only by your imagination.

 

 

Get started with these five unique guacamole ingredients the world has yet to try.

 

1. Breakfast Cereal Guacamole

Start your day off right with classic cereal and Avocados From Mexico. Corn chips, chocolate puffs, crispy rice, or bran flakes would all add a satisfying crunch and a unique flavor to your guac. Serving suggestion: Eat while watching cartoons in your PJs.

 

2. Passion Fruit Guacamole

Doesn’t all great guacamole begin with passion? In this combination, the nutty, gentle taste of the avocado balances out the passion fruit’s mouth-puckering, sour flavor.

 

3. Trail Mix Guacamole

We already know avocados are excellent camping snacks, but sprinkling trail mix into guacamole is a whole new adventure! With every bite, your yummy guacamole comes with a medley of surprises — sweet raisins, crunchy nuts, and bitter dark chocolate.

 

Pro tip: Can’t wait to try these recipes? If your avocado isn’t quite ripe, follow these steps to speed up the ripening process.

 

4. Espresso Guacamole

Do you take your coffee black, with cream, or … green? Try mixing crunchy espresso beans into your guacamole for an extra perk to your dip. To add a layer of sweetness, opt for chocolate-covered espresso beans instead.

 

5. Pretzel Guacamole

Crushing salty pretzels and sprinkling them into your guacamole adds a whole new level of crunch without disturbing the flavor. Alternatively, use pretzel sticks or soft pretzels as dippers instead of tortilla chips with your favorite guac recipe — like this Classic Mexican Guacamole, for example.

 

These suggestions are just the beginning. What are you waiting for? There’s a big world of unique guacamole ingredients out there waiting to be explored.

 

Guacamole Ingredients = ♾️

No matter how you slice it, there’s no limit to guacamole ingredients and their combinations. See for yourself by checking out our guacamole recipes page. It’s a bottomless bowl of guacamole!