Monday, March 5, 2007

Chunky Guacamole

From the American's Test Kitchen Episode: Fajitas and Margaritas, Tex-Mex Favorites

To minimize the risk of discoloration, prepare the minced ingredients first so they are ready to mix with the avocados as soon as they are cut.

Makes 2 1/2 to 3 cups

3 medium avocados , ripe, (preferably Hass)
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 medium clove garlic , minced
1 small jalapeño chile , minced (1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons)
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
2 tablespoons lime juice
  1. Halve one avocado, remove pit, and scoop flesh into medium bowl. Mash flesh lightly with onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, salt, and cumin (if using) with tines of a fork until just combined.

  2. Halve and pit remaining two avocados, and prepare. Gently scoop out avocado into bowl with mashed avocado mixture.

  3. Sprinkle lime juice over diced avocado and mix entire contents of bowl lightly with fork until combined but still chunky. Adjust seasoning with salt, if necessary, and serve. (Can be covered with plastic wrap, pressed directly onto surface of mixture, and refrigerated up to one day. Return guacamole to room temperature, removing plastic wrap at the last moment, before serving).

Step-by-Step: Dicing the Avocado

1. Use dish towel to hold avocado steady. Make 1/2-inch cross-hatch incisions in flesh with a dinner knife, cutting down to but not through skin.
2. Separate diced flesh from skin using spoon inserted between skin and flesh, gently scooping out avocado cubes.

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