Easy Homemade Guacamole

Creamy, chunky and full of fresh flavour, this is the kind of guacamole that takes five minutes to make but instantly makes a meal feel better. I like keeping mine simple ripe avocado, cherry tomatoes, a little onion, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional yeast and a pinch of chilli.

It works brilliantly with tacos, loaded bowls, roasted vegetables, tortilla chips or spooned onto toast.

Ingredients

Serves 2–3 as a side

• 1 large ripe avocado
  
• 2 cherry tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
• 1 generous pinch of sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small pinch of chilli flakes or chilli seasoning, to taste
• Optional: squeeze of fresh lime juice

Method

1. Prepare the avocado.
   Cut the avocado in half, remove the stone and scoop the flesh into a bowl.

2. Mash to your preferred texture.
   Use a fork to mash the avocado. I prefer leaving a few larger pieces rather than making it completely smooth, as it gives the guacamole a much nicer homemade texture.

3. Add the fresh ingredients.
   Stir through the finely chopped cherry tomatoes and onion.

4. Season it.
   Add the olive oil, nutritional yeast, sea salt, black pepper and chilli.

5. Add lime if using.
   A small squeeze of lime adds freshness and can also help slow the avocado browning.

6. Taste before adding more seasoning.
   Avocados vary a lot in size and flavour, so adjust the salt, pepper and chilli gradually rather than adding too much at once.

7. Serve straight away.
   Guacamole is at its best freshly made, although leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for around 1 day.

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Why I like this recipe

Avocado is naturally rich in monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid, as well as fibre, potassium, folate and several fat-soluble nutrients.

The tomatoes add vitamin C and carotenoids, while onion contributes plant compounds including flavonoids. Nutritional yeast adds a savoury, slightly cheesy flavour and, depending on the brand, may also provide fortified B vitamins.

Together, it makes a simple whole-food-based addition to a meal that feels satisfying without needing loads of ingredients.

Avocado and weight management

Avocados are nutrient-dense, but they are also relatively energy-dense compared with most fruit and vegetables because of their healthy fat content.

That does not mean they need to be avoided when you are managing your weight. In fact, the combination of fat and fibre can help make meals feel more satisfying.

The key is simply portion awareness.

For this recipe, ½ an avocado per person is a sensible amount if you are using it as part of a meal. If you are serving it alongside other higher-fat foods such as nuts, seeds, tahini, cheese alternatives or lots of olive oil, you may prefer a slightly smaller portion.

You do not need to fear avocado or weigh every spoonful. It is more useful to think about the overall meal.

A balanced plate could look like:

guacamole + beans/tofu + plenty of vegetables + a wholegrain or potato-based carbohydrate

That gives you a combination of fibre, protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates rather than relying on avocado alone for fullness.

Can you eat avocado every day?

For most people, avocado can absolutely be part of a healthy everyday diet.

You also do not need to eat an entire avocado every day to get the benefits. Half an avocado, or even a few tablespoons of guacamole alongside a varied diet, can be plenty.

Variety matters too, so I like alternating avocado with other healthy fat sources such as:

• nuts and nut butters
• seeds
• tahini
• extra virgin olive oil
• olives

Organic avocado: is it worth it?

If you prefer buying organic produce and it fits your budget, organic avocado is a perfectly good choice.

But conventional avocado is still nutritious, and I would not let the absence of an organic option stop you buying it. The bigger priorities are choosing a ripe avocado, eating a varied diet and including plenty of plants overall.

How to tell when an avocado is ripe

A ripe avocado should give slightly when gently pressed, but it should not feel very soft or squishy.

If it is still hard, leave it at room temperature for a day or two.

Once ripe, move it to the fridge to slow the ripening process.

Easy ways to serve it

This guacamole works especially well with tacos, chilli, burrito bowls, black beans, roasted sweet potato, tofu, scrambled tofu, jacket potatoes or simply with vegetable sticks and tortilla chips.

For a higher-protein meal, pair it with beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh or edamame rather than trying to make the guacamole itself do all the work nutritionally.

The Optimal Living Edit note: healthy fats absolutely belong in a balanced diet. The goal is not to remove them, but to use them alongside plenty of fibre-rich plants and a good protein source so the meal feels satisfying and balanced.