School started. Yuck. Did you notice the leaves? All these precocious trees, so eager to rub in the fact that summer is dead by turning yellow on the first day of school. It doesn’t mean there is no more heat; it’s just a threat of what’s to come. But I defy that threat. I stare it in the eye and announce there will be no fall this September. Endless summer, I say.
Endless summer through food, drinks and parties, that is.
So here goes: party food. Guacamole!
But better: more tasty, more nutritious, more filling.
Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
1/2-1 tomato, diced
1/4 cup feta, crumbled (or more, to taste)
Fresh coriander (optional)
Fresh chilies, finely chopped (if you like it hot/if you have them)
Juice from 1/2 lime
Salt
*Secret ingredient: splash of brine from the feta, about 1-2 tablespoons’ worth
Guacamole is a pretty basic dish; it’s essentially avocado mush. But this version has a little more to it, so here is the procedure:
1. First, mash up the avocado flesh. If you chop everything up first and put it all together, you’ll have to squash the tomatoes and the feta chunks. It won’t look as good and it just isn’t optimal guacamole production.
2. Add the lime juice immediately to prevent the avocado from oxidizing. If you are out of lime juice, or skipping it for whatever reason, leave the avocado pits in the mash, this also prevents browning. I keep them in until I serve the dish.
3. Add everything else, stir, garnish with some feta cheese on top and a few coriander leaves.
Why you should be eating this:
For one, it’s a good excuse to drink Corona and/or wear a sombrero without feeling dorky. For the vegetarians out there, both the feta and the avocado provide plenty of necessary protein.
Also, avocado is an extremely nutritious fruit (that’s right, it’s a fruit). It contains more protein, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin K per ounce than any other fruit. It’s also pretty damn tasty. Enjoy!
