Yahoo Lifestyle The New Viral Way to Make Guacamole, According to a Chef
Some things are just meant to go together—chips and dip, football and beers and of course, guacamole and the Super Bowl. But why is guac such a game-day superstar? Simple. It’s creamy, zesty, packed with flavor and easy to devour by the scoopful. Plus, it pairs with everything: tortilla chips, nachos, tacos, burgers…even a spoon when no one’s looking.
At its core, guacamole is the MVP of dips—mashed ripe avocados mixed with lime juice, salt, cilantro, diced tomatoes, onion and jalapeño. You can also keep it super simple and just mix mashed avocado with salt and lime juice. No matter how you rock your guac, the dip is bright, fresh and a total crowd-pleaser. The cool, creamy texture makes it the perfect counterpoint to all the salty, spicy game-day eats. And let’s be real—no one ever complains about too much guac.
But if you want to take things to the next level (and save some money too), content creator and chef Kim Gamez (@kimmiegamez) has a simple guacamole tip for you to try.
Related: You'll Definitely Want To Steal This Shockingly Simple Trick for Keeping Guacamole Green
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Why You Should Add Lettuce to Your Guacamole
Let's be real for a minute—avocados are a little expensive right now. Luckily, Kim has a suggestion that will add some bulk to that guacamole without using more avocados. She said you just need to add some lettuce.
"Guacamole Hack: add lettuce to your fresh avocados. If you want to bulk it up even more add some pico de gallo — that is my absolute favorite way to serve guacamole!" she wrote in her Instagram caption. In the video, she slices up a few handfuls of Romaine lettuce and stirs it into her dip.
Adding lettuce to guacamole might sound unusual, but some people do it to stretch the dip, add crunch or lighten the texture. This not only makes the guac more budget-friendly, but it also adds a refreshing, crisp contrast to the creamy avocado. Plus, it can slightly lower the calorie count, if that's a concern for you or your guests.
Of course, there may be a few cons. For one, it waters down the rich, buttery flavor of the avocados and it can change the texture, making the guacamole dip feel less indulgent. If not finely chopped, lettuce can be stringy and awkward to scoop.
If you love a fresh crunch, though, you should definitely try it! But if you want a classic, velvety guac, stick to the traditional recipe!
I think I'll try this one because it is very similar to the guacamole I enjoy from my favorite Mexican restaurant (which makes sense because Kim used to own a Mexican restaurant), but I plan to make both this lettuce guacamole and a classic version to give my party guests some options.
Related: Here's What Happens to Your Body if You Eat Avocados Every Day
Other Way to Mix Up Your Guacamole
While adding lettuce to the guac is a good idea, you can also try mixing up the dip in other ways.
Add crispy, crumbled bacon and a diced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce for a smoky, spicy upgrade. For a tropical, sweet-and-savory twist, mix in diced mango, pineapple and a splash of fresh orange juice. For a pretty and delicious garnish, top a basic bowl of guac with a scattered of pomegranate seeds.
No matter how you make it, guacamole is a Super Bowl snack essential. Just be sure to make extra—because the only thing worse than your team losing is running out of guacamole before halftime.
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