This Surprising Ingredient Makes Your Guacamole Unforgettable

I'm calling it "Million Dollar" guacamole for good reason.

Have you ever hovered over a particular dish at a gathering, your social graces whispering, “Keep going, let the others have some,” yet you continue to shovel more of it onto your plate? Now that the scene is set, I admit that this was me eating guacamole at my close friend’s bridal shower.

The host, the bride’s mom, wasn't messing around with her Yotam Ottolenghi-inspired spread. Out of the lineup that featured couscous with herby yogurt and cherry tomatoes, beautiful salads, savory lamb patties, tahini eggplant, and so much more, I was surprised to be hovering over the guacamole, arguably the simplest dish on the table.

"The secret is butter," the bride's mom whispered to me as she buzzed by. Butter in guacamole? As a butter evangelist, I shouldn't be surprised that butter is once again the secret ingredient that hooked me, but I would have never thought to add it to naturally creamy and velvety avocado.

After the bridal shower, I felt compelled to stop and buy the cookbook, "Ottolenghi Simple," on the drive home so I could regularly wow my friends with the same trick. As Ottolenghi says in the book, “The only way to make a creamy, rich avocado even more creamy and rich is, of course, to add some creamy rich butter.” Who am I to argue with that logic?

It’s not just the indulgent creaminess of this combination that captivates me; it’s the subtle enhancement of flavor and texture. The butter adds a luxurious silkiness to the avocado, and the richness of the butter complements the natural nuttiness of the avocado, creating a harmonious balance. I'm calling it "Million Dollar" guacamole going forward and once you taste it, you'll understand why.

This combination had me rethinking how I make guacamole. While not traditional by any means, it's an amazing variation that you have to try to believe.

How To Add Butter to Guacamole

Adding butter to guacamole is a simple process with a few important nuances. Follow these steps to try this amazing combination:

• Choose the Right Butter: Opt for soft, room-temperature butter for easy blending. Avoid melting the butter, as this could lead to separation and make the avocado mixture greasy. I prefer to use salted butter.

• Prep the avocado: Scoop the creamy flesh out of a ripe avocado into a mixing bowl.

• Measure the butter: Start with one to two tablespoons of butter for every avocado. This ratio allows you to gauge the desired level of richness without overpowering the avocado's natural flavor.

• Blend thoroughly: I use a food processor or immersion blender for this step to get a more whipped and evenly blended texture. If I’m short on equipment and time or don’t want to create more dishes to be cleaned, I mash the mixture together with a fork until the butter is fully incorporated. The goal is to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency without any visible chunks of butter.

• Add mix-ins: Incorporate additional ingredients like lime juice, garlic, and fresh herbs at this stage. Blend everything until evenly distributed.

• Season to taste: Don't forget to season your buttery avocado with salt and pepper to enhance its flavor. Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning according to your preference.

Trust me, once you try it, you’ll never look at avocados the same way again.

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.