Guacamole
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Distinguish from Whac-A-Mole (videogame, and House episode).
Guacamole is an avocado-based dip which originated in Mexico.[1] It is traditionally made by mashing ripe avocados with a molcajete (mortar and pestle) and adding tomatoes and seasonings.
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[edit] History
Guacamole was made by the Aztecs as early as the 1500s.[1] After the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, guacamole became popular in Spain.
The name comes from an Aztec dialect via Nahuatl āhuacamolli, from āhuacatl (="avocado") + molli (="sauce").[1] In Spanish, it is pronounced [ɣʷakaˈmole], in American English /ˌɡwɑːkəˈmoʊliː/, and in British English sometimes /ˌɡwækəˈmoʊliː/.
Two U.S. "National Guacamole Days" celebrate the dish, Sept. 16 and Nov. 14, and comic musicians Rhett and Link recorded "The Guacamole Song."[1]
[edit] Ingredients
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Ripe avocados, tomatoes, onions, lime or lemon juice, and salt are common to most recipes. Lime juice adds flavor and slows enzyme-caused browning. Other common ingredients include cilantro (coriander leaf), black pepper, jalapeños, and garlic.
[edit] Commercial guacamole
Prepared and fresh guacamoles are available in stores, often available refrigerated. The non-fresh guacamole that is most like fresh is preserved by freezing or sometimes high pressure packaging.[2] Other non-fresh preparations need higher levels of fillers and artificial preservatives to be shelf stable.
Kraft Foods received consumer complaints and a lawsuit filed against it regarding its commercial guacamole.[3] The main issue was that Kraft's guacamole contained less than 2% avocado and was filled with hydrogenated oils and artificial colors to try to approximate the consistency and color of avocados, whereas typical recipes might have a minimum of 25% avocado.
[edit] Miscellany
- Single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy researcher W. E. Moerner coined the term "guacamole" to refer to 1/ Avogadro's Number as the molar unit for a single molecule.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Zeldes, Leah A. (November 4, 2009). "Eat this! Guacamole, a singing sauce, on its day". Dining Chicago. Chicago's Restaurant & Entertainment Guide, Inc.. http://blog.diningchicago.com/2009/11/04/eat-this-guacamole-a-singing-sauce-on-its-day/. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
- ^ Steve Connor (February 5, 2000), Eureka! Scientists discover how to keep guacamole green, The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/eureka-scientists-discover-how-to-keep-guacamole-green-726376.html
- ^ "California Woman Files Lawsuit Claiming Kraft's Guacamole Dip Doesn't Contain Enough Avocado" on Fox News
- ^ W. E. Moerner, "High-Resolution Optical Spectroscopy of Single Molecules in Solids," Accounts of Chemical Research, 1996, 29, 563.
