The Best Vegan Guacamole: Easy Homemade Recipe
This homemade vegetarian guacamole is zesty, flavorful, and so easy to make! With creamy smashed avocado and loads of delicious vegetables, you’ll love dipping just about anything in this tasty guac!
Ingredient List
Avocados: As the main ingredient in this homemade guacamole, you’ll want to choose great avocados. The best avocados are a bright, pale green color inside and are soft when squeezed but not overly squishy.
Red onion: Mince it finely to infuse the guacamole with the flavor without overpowering it.
Jalapeno peppers: Remove the webbing and the seeds to get the flavor of the peppers without a lot of spice. For a spicy guacamole, you can add in some of the seeds.
Bell peppers: I like adding just a bit of bell peppers to my guac for extra crunch and a touch of sweetness.
Cilantro: I love the flavor this adds, but if you are one of the crowd who finds cilantro to taste like soap, you can skip it or use different fresh herbs.
Lime juice: This is an essential ingredient as it adds a delicious flavor and helps prevent the avocado from browning quickly. Use freshly squeezed juice, not bottled.
Roma tomatoes: Finely dice the tomatoes and remove their seeds before tossing them in the fresh guacamole.
Variations
- Use white onion instead of red onion for a less sweet guacamole
- Try substituting the lime juice for lemon juice. I do this on occasion when I’m out of limes and I’m always delighted by the different flavor!
- Add spices like chili powder or cumin to your guac if you want some added flavor
- Experiment with mashing the avocados less to make a chunky guacamole or mashing them a lot to have an extra-smooth guacamole. Both ways are delicious in their own right.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many different ways to enjoy this easy guacamole recipe! Vegetarian guacamole is the perfect dip or topper to add delicious flavor to your dishes. Here are my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Scoop it with your favorite tortilla chips for a salty, flavorful snack. Add mango pico de gallo to the side too!
- Serve on top of tacos with black beans, sour cream, and salsa
- Smeared onto a piece of toasted sourdough to make a zesty avocado toast
- Atop all of your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. I, in particular, love enchiladas with a big scoop of veggie guacamole and a dollop of sour cream!
How to Make Ahead
Guacamole is really best served fresh, but you can make it ahead by a couple of days.
To make guacamole that you won’t be serving immediately, first, make it without the lime juice. Transfer the prepared guacamole into an airtight container that is taller and skinnier, so it has less surface area. Squeeze the lime juice on top of the guacamole to finish. This creates a barrier that prevents air from touching the guac, which is what causes browning.
If you are saving leftovers and the lime juice is already in the guacamole, you can add more lime juice, use plastic wrap, or use a thin layer of water instead.
Guacamole can be kept in the fridge for about 2-3 days. If you want to prep ahead even further, I recommend having the ingredients chopped and ready but mashing your avocados at the last minute. After a couple of days, avocado gets brown and the flavor changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can vegetarians eat guacamole?
Yes, most of the time, guacamole is vegetarian. Because it is primarily made up of avocados, herbs, and vegetables, there is not meat to worry about. On occasion, you’ll find guacamole with bacon in it. Dairy products are more common but they are suitable for a vegetarian diet.
Is guacamole vegan?
Guacamole is typically vegan, but it does occasionally have dairy products and sometimes meat. It’s best to check the ingredient lists to be sure it does not have feta cheese, cotija cheese, mayo, or sour cream.
What can I use in guacamole instead of cilantro?
If you are part of the crowd to whom cilantro tastes like soap, you aren’t alone. You can simply skip the cilantro in your guacamole and it will still taste delicious. You can also substitute other fresh herbs like parsley or basil.
What vegetables go best with guacamole?
Guacamole is the perfect dip for veggies if you need a healthy snack! The vegetables that go best with guacamole are celery, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, blanched asparagus, or radishes. Pretty much every vegetable is delicious with a big scoop of guacamole, so don’t be afraid to try different ones.
More Vegetarian Recipes You’ll Love
Vegetarian Guacamole
This homemade vegetarian guacamole is zesty, flavorful, and so easy to make! With creamy smashed avocado and loads of delicious vegetables, you’ll love dipping just about anything in this tasty guac!
Ingredients
- 3 large avocados
- 2 tablespoons red onion, minced
- 2 tablespoons jalapeño, minced
- ¼ cup bell peppers, diced
- ¼ cup Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 tablespoons cilantro, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by slicing the avocados in half and removing the pits. Scoop out the avocado flesh into a large mixing bowl and mash it with a potato masher or a fork.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables.
Notes
If you are not serving the guacamole immediately, make it without the lime juice, transfer it to an airtight container, and squeeze the lime juice onto the surface of the guac. This will create a barrier that blocks air from touching your guacamole to prevent browning. When you are ready to serve it, stir the lime juice into the guac.
