Today is Mexican Independence Day. It is also a day is the day to celebrate one of America’s, if not the most popular, dip, GUACAMOLE! It is an easy dish of avocados, lime juice, tomatoes, onions, and seasonings. It can be basic or complex with flavors added to satisfy any palate. Avocados have become super popular for decades especially recently as it was declared a super food, packed with good fats and high in nutrients. What is the history of the avocado and guacamole? What variations are available for this popular dish? Why do people love avocados and guacamole so much? A simple internet search will produce countless guacamole recipe, I will provide one that is simple, easy and can be modified to various tastes.
Avocados originated with the Aztecs in Mexico and known as a “fertility fruit” (Amidor, 2009). It was first cultivated between 7,000 and 5,000 BC. The word, “guacamole” is from the Classical Nahuatl word meaning “avocado sauce.” Avocados, in general, as well as guacamole have become increasingly popular in the United States since the 1990s. Today, California is the leading producer of domestic avocados with 90% of the US crop coming from the Golden State (Amidor, 2009). There are multiple variations of a guacamole. First, Mantequilla de pobre is literally “poor man’s butter,” which is a mixture of avocado, tomato, oil and a citrus juice. Despite its name, it predates the arrival od dairy cattle in the Americas and was not originally used as a butter substitute. Second, Guasacaca is a Venezuelan avocado sauce made with vinegar. It is usually served with parrillas (grilled foods), arepas or empanadas.
Why is guacamole so popular? It is a dip that people will devour in minutes and fight each other for each bite. It can be eaten alone with chips or on a burger, sandwich, or anything you can think of. The possibilities are endless. First, it fits into any diet. It is kosher, Halal, gluten free, grain free, vegan and dairy free (Spigelman Richter, 2015). Second, it is healthy for you. As mentioned before, avocados are a superfood. It is packed with folate, potassium, and vitamin B (Spigelman Richter, 2015). It is also low in sugar, high in monounsaturated fat with no sodium or cholesterol. It is high in lutein, an antioxidant, which is good for healthy eyes, and beta-sitosterol, which has been shown to help lower cholesterol (Amidor, 2009) as well as the added benefit from the tomatoes, garlic and lime juice. However, avocados are high in calories. It is the one flaw in this otherwise amazing fruit.
On April 6, 2018, Junta Local de Sandid Vegetal de Tancitaro achieved the Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole (Guinness World Record, 2018). As part of Tancitaro’s 7th Annual Avocado Festival in Tancitaro Michoacan, Mexico, guacamole was prepared, weigning in at 3,788 kg (8,351 lbs) and took more than 350 people to prepared. The recipe for guacamole is simple dish that be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled, depending on the party size. Traditionally, a mortar and pestle would be used to mash the avocados but a fork works just fine.
Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
2 tbsp onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 ripe tomato, chopped
The juice of 1 lime, add to taste
Salt and pepper to taste.
Peel and mash avocados in a medium serving bowl. Stir in onions, garlic, tomato, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. The ingredients can be increased or decreased depending on preferences. It can be made spicy by adding chopped and seeded jalapenos.
Guacamole is a great dip with chips or can be added to a variety of foods and dishes. Originally cultivated in Mexico by the Aztecs, avocados and guacamole has become a popular addition to cuisine of many cultures in the Americas. It is a simple dish to make and extremely popular at parties, gatherings or just to have on regular night. It is a great food with a variety of nutrients and fits into many diets. Happy National Guacamole Day! A salute to everyone’s favorite dip!
References
Amidor, Toby (January 2009). Why We Love Avocados.
Food Network. www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/recipes/2009/01/why-we-love-avocados.
Retrieved September 12, 2020.
Guinness World Record (April 6, 2018). Largest Serving of
Guacamole. www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-serving-of-guacamole/.
Retrieved September 12, 2020.
Spigelman Richter, Sarah (August 22, 2015). 6 reasons
guacamole is the unofficial dip of the people. Mashable. www.mashable.com/2015/08/22/guacamole-love/.
Retrieved September 12, 2020.
No comments:
Post a Comment