Agastya has always been in my kitchen, but recently I’ve discovered that he can make guacamole.  If I give him a soft avocado split in half, he scoops out the flesh and pounds it in the molcajete.  A little sprinkle of salt, and it’s almost good enough to eat.  If there is onion at home, I chop a little and give it to him to add to his dish.  Tomato adds a sweet-tart and finger-licking yumminess to the guacamole.  I never seem to have limes or jalapenos/serranos or cilantro around all the time, but any or all of them add texture and flavor and interest to the guacamole.  I would recommend adding these, including tomatoes and onions, cautiously and in small quantities, as they can otherwise overpower the subtle creaminess of the avocado.

Most children love avocado, and it’s often a recommended first food for babies.  Missing in the above picture is my nine-month old, who is always hovering around any food in the kitchen.  He especially loves the guacamole and will lunge full-body into the stone vessel for his share of the feast.

Recipe:

1 ripe Hass avocado, that gives slightly to the touch
2 tbsps onion, finely chopped
2 tbsps tomato, pulp and seeds removed and finely chopped
salt to taste

Optional: a few stalks of chopped cilantro, dash of lime, finely chopped jalapenos for heat

1. First,  in a molcajete, pound together the onion, tomato, cilantro, and jalapeno (if using).  Then add the chunks of avocado.  Smash together.  Leave in a few whole pieces of avocado.  Add a sprinkle of salt and lime juice to taste.  There may be little or no need for lime juice if using tomatoes.

2. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.  My favorite brand is Xochitl.

Update as of 5/12/2011 : I took a Mexican cooking class recently at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City. Their guacamole was full of sharp and exciting flavors.  Here’s what I learnt:

First, dot the big avocado seeds across your guacamole after you make it to preserve freshness.  Use white onions and plum tomatoes that have their pulpy center removed.  And use deseeded serrano peppers for a sharper flavor.

I’ve typed in their ingredients below.

4 ripe Hass avocados
1/2 cup chopped white onion
2 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 serrano pepper, seeded, ribs removed and diced
1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 freshly squeezed lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Note: for a spicier guacamole, substitute the serrano pepper with a habanero pepper