Avocados: The miracle worker.

Avocados are an underestimated fruits and I can't figure out why. A lot of people are turned off to them because they are high in fat, but it is the good fat, the monosaturated fat that is beneficial to our bodies. They are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins and also have great health benefits like the natural ability to help lower cholesterol. So when my boyfriend told me the other day that his little brother found out he has high cholesterol, the first thing I thought of was avocados! I've been using them like crazy in my cooking, making egg salad sandwiches with sliced avocado, dicing it up and putting in my salads and even throwing some in my omelets (which is actually delicious).

For his brother though, I played it safe and went with what every boy loves: guacamole. I learned this recipe while taking a cooking class in Cabo San Lucas and it turns out great every time. Use this recipe as a guide and adjust each ingredient depending on your taste, but, one thing I highly recommend is saving the pit of the avocado and throwing it in the finished guacamole. It helps prevent the guacamole from turning brown--leave it in the serving bowl for a more rustic look!

So here's what you'll need: Avocados, fresh cilantro, red onion, jalapenos, tomatoes and fresh lime juice.

I find that the easiest way to do this is to get all the chopping out of the way first, so start off with your cilantro.

 Take 1/4 cup fresh leaves 

 And finely chop it up.

Finely chop 1/2 small red onion

 Next, take about 4-5 cocktail tomatoes or 1 roma tomato and remove the seeds. Do this by cutting the tomatoes in half

 Then again so you are left with quarters

 Run a small paring knife between the seeds and the flesh of the tomatoes

Remove the seeds and juice. This will work on any size tomato and makes it so much easier to chop the tomatoes!

 Dice up the tomatoes

 

Remove the seeds from 1 jalapeno and dice it up (I usually use fresh but I didn't have any on hand, the canned worked but if you have the fresh definitely use them!)

 

Set aside all your chopped vegetables and start on the avocados

To remove the seed from the avocado, cut the avocado in half lengthwise and twist the bottom free from the top.

 Holding the avocado in one hand, gently hit the pit with the knife

Twist to remove the pit easily from the avocado

 Repeat with remaining avocados

Add some cilantro, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, salt and fresh squeezed lime juice to the bowl

 Using a whisk gently whisk the ingredients together

 Keep whisking until all big chunks are broken down

A whisk will make the guacamole nice and creamy and still leave you with some texture from the avocados

When the guacamole is nicely mixed, taste and adjust the seasonings. Add more of each ingredient to your liking

Serve it up and enjoy! Make sure you eat some before you put it out for your family and friends though because this goes quick. 

Guacamole

Serves 2-4

2 Avocados

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

1 jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped

1 roma tomato, seeded, chopped

1/2 lime, juiced

Salt, to taste

1. Remove the seeds from the avocados, place each avocado half in a bowl. Add the chopped cilantro, red onion, jalapeno, tomatoes, salt and lime juice. Whisk until there is still some texture left.
2.  Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.