Guacamole

Guacamole (called guacamol in Central America and Cuba) is an avocado-based relish or dip.

History

Of Aztec origin, it was originally valued for its high fat and vitamin content. Guacamole was originally made by mashing the avocado with a molcajete (a type of mortar and pestle) and adding tomatoes and salt. After the arrival of the Spanish "conquistadors", guacamole became popular in Spain. Since avocados failed to grow well in Spain guacamole remained an American food.

The name "guacamole" comes from Mexican Spanish via Nahuatl "āhuacamolli", from "āhuacatl" (="avocado") + "molli" (="sauce"). In Spanish it is pronounced IPA|/ɣʷakaˈmole/; in American English it is pronounced IPA|/ˌgwɑkəˈmoʊli/ or sometimes in British English IPA|/ˌgwækəˈməʊli/.

Ingredients

Ripe avocados, lime, and salt are common to most recipes. Lime or lemon juice is added not only for flavor and but also to slow the reaction of the enzyme that causes browning.

Other common ingredients include minced tomatoes, minced or grated red onion, black pepper, chili pepper, garlic, cumin, cilantro, and worcestershire sauce. Some add sour cream as a filler and a preservative. [http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000159perfect_guacamole.php]

Tradition

In Southern Africa gaucamole was thought to bring good luck if one rubbed it on their genital area.Sangomas(witch doctors) would eat about 500g of guacamole before going into a trance to stop spirits they did not want to enter their bodies. It was also common belief amongst South African politicians that the use of guacamole after sexual intercourse, combined with garlic and showering could provide an effective cure to HIV/AIDS.

Commercial guacamole

There are many types of pre-made guacamole available in stores. Fresh guacamole is available and is often available refrigerated. The non-fresh guacamole most like fresh is preserved by freezing or sometimes high pressure packaging. Other non-fresh preparations need higher levels of fillers and artificial preservatives to be shelf stable.

One of the world's largest food companies, Kraft Foods, came under fire with consumer complaints and lawsuits regarding Kraft's commercial guacamole [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,233318,00.html FOXNews.com - California Woman Files Lawsuit Claiming Kraft's Guacamole Dip Doesn't Contain Enough Avocado - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News ] ] . The main issue was that Kraft's guacamole contained less than 2 percent avocado and contains hydrogenated oils and artificial colors to try to approximate the consistency and color of avocados. In response to this, consumer health advocate Mike Adams called it Kraft's "avocado-free guacamole" and said "Avocado should be the main ingredient in guacamole. I recommend that people get avocado dip from places that actually use avocado as the main ingredient".

Food technologists have found that high pressure preserves guacamole for weeks, preventing it from browning.citation|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5054240.html|publisher=The Independent|date=February 5, 2000|author=Steve Connor|title=Eureka! Scientists discover how to keep guacamole green]

Mushy Peas

Differentiating between guacamole and mushy peas, which have a similar appearance, is considered to be a significant class distinction in Britain. [citation|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2005/sep/23/features11.g21|title=A view from abroad|date=September 23 2005|author=Jenny Colgan|publisher=The Guardian] Labour Party minister, Peter Mandelson was famously said to have committed a faux pas when he mistook the two in a fish and chip shop in his constituency of Hartlepool. The Labour Party was subsequently thought to have successfully merged these middle class and working class tastes but the metaphor was used to indicate that they no longer did so. [citation|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3152274.stm|date=30 September, 2003|title=Blair urged 'mix old and new'|publisher=BBC] Recapturing this recipe is held to be essential to their success. [citation|title=Labour's success is in the blend of mushy peas and guacamole|publisher=Daily Post|date=August 10, 2006|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-149278243.html|author=Daniel Davies]

Guacamole is expected to become more popular when the food colouring tartrazine is banned from mushy peas and substitutes with a similar bright green colour are sought. [citation|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?xml=/wine/2008/05/11/st_beewilson.xml|title=The kitchen thinker: peas and goodwill|date=11/05/2008|title=Mushy peas just aren’t what they used to be – thank goodness|AUTHOR=Bee Wilson|publisher=The Daily Telegraph]

References

External links

* [http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001737how_to_cut_and_peel_an_avocado.php How to Cut and Peel an Avocado]