Here are seven simple avocado recipes for your dipping pleasure. Avocados are a popular main ingredient in appetizer dips. The avocado has health benefits, and is one of the more satisfying and filling ingredients that you can find in a dip. The avocado is easy to work with, if you treat the delicate fruit in the proper manner. Here are six avocado recipes for dipping!
Selecting the Fruit
If the grocery store has actually separated the ripe avocados from the unripe avocados, then your job is done. If not, find avocados that are firm yet give a bit with a gentle squeeze. Check the bottom of the avocado, where it was resting on the pile of other avocados to see if there are any mushy spots. A mushy avocado will be past its ripeness.
You can ripen an avocado the same way you would ripen bananas, by placing them in a brown paper bag.
When to Make the Simple Dip
Any dips made with avocado should be made no earlier than one hour before you will be serving them. When storing exposed avocados (unpeeled, sliced or mashed), coat the top with thin layer of fresh lime juice to minimize browning. Another way to minimize browning is to place the avocado pit into the dip. Cover with plastic wrap.
When you are ready to serve, if there is browning on the top, use a plastic utensil to remove the very top layer of the avocado dip. Don’t worry, it is just natural browning, the dip is fine.
Preparation of the Simple Dip
Start with ripe avocados. Cut the avocados in half. Use a plastic spoon to dislodge the avocado pit. Set the pit aside if the kids want to try to root it.
Use a plastic fork or rice scoop to scoop the avocado into a bowl. Use the same utensils to chop and smash the avocado. For a chunkier avocado dip, don’t completely mash the fruit.
Simple Avocado Dip
The amount of flavorings you put in your avocado dip depends on how many avocados you are using, and your own personal taste. When using one avocado, I probably use about a tablespoon and a teaspoon of lime juice, a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder (not salt), and a quarter teaspoon of sea salt. This makes an avocado dip with light flavors that do not overpower the natural taste of the avocado.
To flavor the avocado dip, you will need fresh lime juice. The fresh lime juice can either come from a real lime or from a a bottle of pure lime juice. Add enough lime juice to mix in with the avocado, but not enough to make it watery.
Also add some garlic powder, not garlic salt. Garlic powder is pure garlic. Be careful not to add too much. You can always add more if yo want more of a garlic flavor.
You can use any type of salt, but the superior choice is freshly ground sea salt. The next best choice, if you don’t have a sea salt grinder is to use Kosher salt.
Mix the ingredients and taste. Remember that in an hour the flavors will be stronger, so try not to over-spice the natural avocado dip
Tip: If you use plastic utensils to prepare the dip, it will not discolor as fast as it will when you use metal utensils.
Easy Guacamole Dip
The easiest and quickest way to make Homemade Guacamole Dip is to use the above basic method and add an equally amount of strained salsa. The salsa can be homemade salsa, or it can be your favorite store-bought brand. Be sure to use a colander or slotted spoon to strain out the excess liquid in the salsa before adding it to the avocado. Otherwise, the dip may become watery.
Tex-Mex Avocado Dip
Add chili powder and fresh, chopped cilantro.
Fiber-iffic Dip
You can also take either of the previous two recipes and add some healthy fiber. Add some drained and cooked black beans to the dip.
Tropical Dip
Make the Simple Avocado Dip and add a tablespoon each of pineapple juice and orange juice. For texture you can also add finely chopped pineapple, fresh or canned.
Hot and Spicy Dip
Turn the easy dip recipe into a hot one with the addition of a chopped Jalapeno pepper, your favorite hot sauce, or cayenne pepper.
Cowboy Dip
Make the simple recipe and add sour cream and ranch dressing. For each avocado, add a quarter cup of sour cream and one tablespoon of dry Ranch dressing mix. Or take a short cut and add pre-made Ranch dressing. Increase the amount of sour cream and dip mix, or the salad dressing for each avocado.
Make Multiple Dips Easily
Once you make the initial dip you can split it in half or into thirds and make more than one flavor of dip.
