Name: Authentic Guacamole Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 3 large avocados; 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (mexican green onion is ideal but red onion works great!); 1/4 cup chopped cilantro; 1 serrano pepper, chopped (seeds included); 1 tsp sea salt, or more to taste

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Have you ever wondered how to make an authentic guacamole recipe like they do in the avocado region of Mexico? This recipe was passed down from traditional Michocan chefs that will surprise you with its simplicity and flavor!

When Lee, Linley and I visited Uruapan, Mexico, we anticipated we’d be eating some delicious guacamole, but what we didn’t anticipate was that it would be life-changing authentic guacamole. I’m fairly certain we ate our weight in guac within a day of our arrival, but we also discovered that for our entire lives we’d been making guac all wrong.

It turns out that somewhere between Uruapan, Mexico and the US border, garlic and lime got added to the guacamole mix. I’m guilty of adding both, and truthfully it’s pretty damn good, but after trying authentic guacamole made by 3rd generation Mexican chefs, I can safely say that they are so not necessary.

Watch me make this authentic guacamole recipe

What is authentic guacamole?

As I’ve discovered from talking to a lot of different Mexicans along our trip and beyond, it’s become clear that everyone has their own version of “authentic” guacamole. But when a 3rd generation traditional Mexican chef as declared by UNESCO tells me that this is how to make authentic guacamole, you better damn well believe her.

So what goes into authentic guacamole? Even I was shocked at how simple the recipe is. Here’s what you need:

avocados
Mexican onion (or green onion/scallions if you can’t find!)
serrano pepper
cilantro
salt

The traditional chefs of Uruapan explained to us that simple is best because garlic and lime take away from the fresh taste of the avocados. And you know what? They’re right. Granted, avocados that were picked fresh from your backyard are going to taste pretty damn good, but there was no denying that their recipe totally trumped the typical North American version.

The Key Ingredient

We need to chat about the life-changing part of this guacamole… the cilantro. As I’m sure some of you may have noticed if you’ve been following THM for some time, my recipes almost never include cilantro. Cilantro option? Sure. But never mandatory.

Until now…

The cilantro in this recipe is 100% mandatory. And honestly, it makes the recipe (besides fresh avocados obviously!).

But notice what isn’t including? Garlic! The traditional chefs of Uruapan thought it was funny how Americans use garlic in their guacamole. Now that I’ve tried their version, I have to agree!

So here’s to embracing new traditions! And to of course to the beauty that is the avocado. GOD BLESS.