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Caution! Cuidado! Do not confuse Salsa de Aguacate, or Avocado Salsa with guacamole!
Have you ever been to an authentic Mexican restaurant?
You know, the kind where you walk in and you wonder if anyone in the place speaks English or you have to point to the picture of your food because the menu is in Spanish?
Chances are they are serving you Salsa de Aguacate and not Guacamole.
Some of my favorite Mexican dishes that go great with Salsa de Aguacate, or Avocado Salsa: Beef Taquitos, Pork Carnitas, and Alambre de Res.
Looks can be deceiving. There is a big difference between the two salsas.
Table of Contents
Avocado Salsa Vs. Guacamole
- Avocado Salsa is thinner than guacamole and made with tomatillos.
- Guacamole is made only with avocados.
My best guess is that someone only had one avocado and had to stretch it, and so, they created Salsa de Aguacate.
It’s usually VERY spicy. Taste it first before adding a bunch on your plate.
Otherwise, you might find yourself gulping your Agua de Jamaica or your ice, cold cerveza down faster than you expected.
Other Names for this Salsa:
- Dip de Aguacate
- Avocado Salsa Verde
- Guacamole Taquero
- Tomatillo Guacamole
All of these names are acceptable. To be sure, ask your server what is in it.
My aunt adds a splash of olive oil for texture. Using olive oil does have its advantages. No refrigeration and less worrying whether it sits outside or not is definitely a good thing.
Avocados are very easy to dice. There are kitchen gadgets that can do this for you. However, a regular knife works well too.
The main objection is to get rid of the pit.
More Mexican Salsa Recipes:
Chile Piquin Salsa
Avocado Mango Salsa
Molcajete Salsa Verde
Chile de Arbol Salsa
How to dice an avocado
An avocado is oval-shaped. Look for the longest point and the widest point.
- Cut the avocado in half lengthwise.
- Be sure to cut all the way around.
Do this on a cutting board. It is easier than doing this on a plate.
How to tell if an avocado is ripe?
- Squeeze it gently.
- If there is some firmness but just enough give, then you’re good to go.
If the avocado squeezes easily, it might be bruised on the inside and not good to eat.
If when you squeeze the avocado, it’s hard as a rock, it’s going to take a few days to ripen. For a dinner that’s happening in a few days, this might not be a bad option.
Gently separate the two halves.
- In the meantime, you want the knife to get a hold of the seed.
- You will need to hold the avocado half in your hand and with the other hand tap the avocado seed with your knife.
- Please be very careful. Remove the seed.
See how mine above has a few brown spots? I will be removing those with a spoon before removing the diced avocado from the shell.
- Hold one of the avocado halves down.
- Dice the avocado while still inside the shell.
- Do this to the other side.
Some people save the seed. They say it helps the avocado from turning brown.
Personally, I throw it away, and wrap up any leftover avocado in plastic wrap.
If you are using it in a salsa like I am, you can also add some lemon to it to prevent from turning brown.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the diced avocado.
- Discard the shell.
Very, very easy! You just have to watch your fingers.
From here, you can put the diced avocado in salads or salsas as I am in this recipe for Salsa de Aguacate.
To make avocado slices, simply make long cuts lengthwise. Do not cut across.
History lesson: Aguacate, or avocado, comes from the Aztec meaning “testicle.” I can’t make this stuff up, folks. Look it up on Wikipedia. You’ve gotta have a lot of cajones to make this sauce. 🙂
Salsa de Aguacate, or Avocado Salsa, is spicy and smooth. It’s the perfect topping for grilled Carne Asada or Tamales de Rajas.
This salsa is also great for snacking with veggies or tortilla chips. It is also completely 100% vegan. iProvecho!
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Salsa de Aguacate, or Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add tomatillos, onion, garlic, and jalapeño in a large stock pot.
- Add enough water to cover.
- Bring to a boil.
- Let boil 6-8 minutes, or until tomatillo is soft.
- Turn off stove.
- Add cooked tomatillo, onion,garlic, and jalapeño to a blender along with 1 cup of the water used in boiling.
- Discard the rest of the water.
- Be very careful. It will be very hot.
- With a kitchen towel, blend until smooth.
- Add salt, cilantro, lime juice, avocado.
- Add olive oil or sour cream (if using)
- Blend until smooth.
- Taste for good measure.
- Serve and enjoy!
I have made this several times and enjoy it very much! I like mine a little spicier; I use Fresno peppers more than one. I like the heat!!
Great way to spice it up!
If I make this the night before will it stay the same color.. will the avocado turn brown?? Can’t wait to try this
It will change color. I suggest covering it with plastic wrap and pressing down so it touches the top layer. The plastic should be touching the top of the salsa. The next day, when you peel the plastic off, only the top layer will change color. Give it all a good mix. The rest of the salsa will be bright green.
Very good,I used a bit more garlic and water.I will be making more 🤗
Extra garlic = extra yummy! Glad you liked it.
yummmy
Thank you!
Wow ! So easy, quick and yet full of nice spicy deliciousness. Everyone loves it, I had to add it to my dip and Mexican section, great on empanadas, dip chicken wings, tacos, tostadas, flautas, steaks, carne asada, eggs, I’m a happy Avocado Salsa girl. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful recipes, am a follower. Thank you for bringing your ideas on Mexican cooking, you are reaching budding cooks. I used the olive oil and also made it with the crema, both were outstanding. Used just a small sprinkle of cumin.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad to hear that my Salsa de Aguacate recipe added a nice spicy touch to your meals.
Wow, this salsa is amazing
Awww! So glad you liked it. Just made it the other day again, and we loved it.
This recipe is soooooooo good!!
A MUST try!
Thank you! Yes, it’s definitely a MUST!
Hi Maggie, I have a couple of comments! First though, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this salsa…thank you so much fo this recipe! Next, I can’t wait to try your coctel de camarones, but I have to ask you …every time I have had a coctel they are sweet, and that is what I am looking for….how to make the sweet salsa or juice in the coctel….and when making it with clamato it si not the same!! Do you happent to have a recipe that makes a sweet salsa for this coctel? Next…I live in Tijuana and for the life of me I cannot find heavy cream in any Mexican stores here. Do you have any idea what to substitute for heavy cream in Mexico? And last, you make me soooo homesick! I saw all the info about Aldi’s on your blog….do you know if there are any aldi’s groceries in Tijuana?
Thanks Maggie! So happy you shared this recipe with us….I can’t stop eating it….!!!
Hola Maria. I go to Tijuana alllll the time. If you can’t find heavy cream, look for media crema or crema para batir. I know LaLa carries media crema, and I want to say Nestle has it in lata. For sweet coctel de camaron, I’ve never tried this, but this is the first thing that popped into my head. It might sound weird too, but have you tried adding piloncillo? Not too much. Even sugar. Start with just a little bit then add a little more. You know how in spaghetti sauce they sometimes add sugar, same thing here. I hope this helps! Provecho.
This is delicious! My whole family loved it. We added the extra jalapeno and it was just spicy enough. Thank you for this recipe we will be making it always.
Mmm.. that sounds delicious! So happy your family liked it.
super loved this recipe! highly recommended! Thanks for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed this Allyssa!
Yum, this avocado salsa looks amazing! Will be perfect with some chips.
So yummy! Glad you liked it
I usually buy avocado salsa from costco, but i prefer making things myself from scratch! This was even better and healthier!
Glad you liked it! Hope you try it
Yum! This recipe looks absolutely delicious!! Can’t wait to try it out with some chips!
It’s amazing. Hope you try it!
This salsa looks and sounds so delicious. The color and consistency look pleasing.
So glad you enjoyed this! Hope you try it
I don’t like avocado as a fruit but love salsa! I’ll surely try your version as well 🙂
You”ll love this recipe. Hope you try it!
This sounds like a great salsa! We love everything avocado and salsa, so I’ll have to try out your recipe.
So good right? We love this one too
It is my favorite salsa, and I love that it is easy to make, so I will be making it this weekend, yummy
Easy and delicious!
I love anything with avocado in it and this looks wonderful. Yummy and it looks easy to make too.
It’s delicious! Hope you try it!