Common Ingredients in guacamole Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over twenty popular guacamole recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredient in guacamole dishes is cilantro.

Avocado, onion, lime, roma tomatoes and garlic are also common ingredients in guacamole recipes. Salt is in 85% of guacamole recipes and pepper, 10%.

The average guacamole recipe has about 9.7 ingredients, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 17.

In terms of directions, guacamole recipes have about 3.7 steps on average, ranging from 1 to 13 instructions.

An average guacamole recipe takes about 16 minutes to prepare, ranging from 10 minutes to 30 minutes.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Guacamole

For 3 avocado (408 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single guacamole recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient Median Average % of recipes with avocado Potential subsitutions
cilantro 0.38 cup
(6 g)
0.35 cup
(6 g)
89%
lime juice 4.7 tablespoon
(71 g)
11.3 tablespoon
(171 g)
67%
roma tomatoes 1.2
(73 g)
1.7
(105 g)
61%
onion three quarters of a small
(53 g)
0.93 small
(65 g)
61%
  • white onion
  • scallions
garlic 1 clove
(3 g)
1.1 clove
(3 g)
50%
jalapeno 1
(14 g)
1.9
(26 g)
28%
  • serrano chile
  • scallions

Ingredients by Average Weight in Guacamole

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in guacamole recipes. This would be: 60% avocado, 14% lime juice, 11% roma tomatoes, 6% onion, 3% sour cream, 2% white onion, 1% lime, 1% cilantro and 1% jalapeno.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

cilantro

Image of cilantro

Cilantro is the most popular ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 90% of guacamole recipes contain cilantro.

Chopped is a frequent preparation for cilantro in guacamole dishes.

Cilantro is often included in guacamole dishes in amounts of a quarter cup, half a cup or 3 tablespoons.

In guacamole recipes that contain cilantro, it is on average, 0.8% by weight.

For guacamole recipes, cilantro is frequently used with avocado, salt, onion, lime juice and roma tomatoes.

avocado

Image of avocado

Another popular ingredient in guacamole is avocado. From the recipes we've sampled for guacamole, over 85% have avocado.

Guacamole dishes often call for avocado to be peeled, pitted and mashed.

Avocado is often included in guacamole dishes in amounts of 3 avocados, 4 avocados or 2 avocados.

In guacamole recipes that contain avocado, it is on average, 53% by weight.

In recipes for guacamole, avocado is often used with salt, cilantro, lime juice, onion and roma tomatoes.

onion

Image of onion

Onion is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 85% of guacamole recipes contain onion.

Variations of onion include:
  • white onion: 19% of recipes
Cilantro, salt, avocado, roma tomatoes and lime juice are commonly used together with onion in guacamole dishes.

Potential substitutions for onion in guacamole:
  • white onion
  • scallions

salt

Image of salt

Another popular ingredient in guacamole is salt. From the recipes we've sampled for guacamole, over 85% have salt.

Salt is often included in guacamole dishes in amounts of half a teaspoon or 1 teaspoon.

In guacamole recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.3% by weight.

For guacamole recipes, salt is frequently used with avocado, cilantro, lime juice, onion and roma tomatoes.

lime

Image of lime

Lime is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 80% of guacamole recipes contain lime.

Variations of lime include:
In recipes for guacamole, lime is often used with avocado, roma tomatoes, salt, onion and cilantro.

Potential substitutions for lime in guacamole:
  • lime juice
Also, lime is not often used with white onion, sour cream, chile powder, serrano chile, cumin, black pepper and vegetable oil.

lime juice

Image of lime juice

Another popular ingredient in guacamole is lime juice. From the recipes we've sampled for guacamole, over 65% have lime juice.

Common quantities for lime juice in guacamole dishes include 1 tablespoon, 2 lime juices or 2 tablespoons.

In guacamole recipes that contain lime juice, it is on average, 16% by weight.

Cilantro, avocado, salt, onion and roma tomatoes are commonly used together with lime juice in guacamole dishes. Conversely, lime juice is not often used with cayenne pepper, flour tortillas and scallions.

roma tomatoes

Image of roma tomatoes

Roma tomatoes is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 65% of guacamole recipes contain roma tomatoes.

Diced, seeded and chopped are frequent preparations for roma tomatoes in guacamole dishes.

Roma tomatoes is often included in guacamole dishes in amounts of 2 roma tomatoes, 1 large or 1 small.

In guacamole recipes that contain roma tomatoes, it is on average, 13% by weight.

For guacamole recipes, roma tomatoes is frequently used with cilantro, salt, avocado, onion and lime juice. However, vegetable oil is almost never used together with roma tomatoes in guacamole dishes.

garlic

Image of garlic

Another popular ingredient in guacamole is garlic. From the recipes we've sampled for guacamole, over 50% have garlic.

Guacamole dishes often call for garlic to be minced and grated.

Garlic is often included in guacamole dishes in amounts of 1 clove or 2 cloves.

In guacamole recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 0.7% by weight.

In recipes for guacamole, garlic is often used with cilantro, avocado, salt, lime juice and onion. On the other hand, garlic is almost never used with flour tortillas.

jalapeno

Image of jalapeno

Jalapeno is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 25% of guacamole recipes contain jalapeno.

Variations of jalapeno include:
  • green jalapeno pepper tabasco: 5% of recipes
Salt, cilantro, avocado, onion and roma tomatoes are commonly used together with jalapeno in guacamole dishes.

Potential substitutions for jalapeno in guacamole:
  • serrano chile
  • scallions
Also, jalapeno is not often used with cumin, cayenne pepper and flour tortillas.

sour cream

Image of sour cream

Sour cream is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 15% of guacamole recipes contain sour cream.

In guacamole recipes that contain sour cream, it is on average, 13% by weight.

In recipes for guacamole, sour cream is often used with lime juice, cilantro, onion, garlic and salt. On the other hand, sour cream is almost never used with white onion, serrano chile, cumin, cayenne pepper, flour tortillas and scallions.

chile powder

Another popular ingredient in guacamole is chile powder. From the recipes we've sampled for guacamole, over 10% have chile powder.

In guacamole recipes that contain chile powder, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

Avocado, onion, lime juice, salt and cilantro are commonly used together with chile powder in guacamole dishes.

Potential substitutions for chile powder in guacamole:
  • serrano chile
Also, chile powder is not often used with white onion, cayenne pepper, flour tortillas and scallions.

serrano chile

Serrano chile is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 10% of guacamole recipes contain serrano chile.

In guacamole recipes that contain serrano chile, it is on average, 0.8% by weight.

For guacamole recipes, serrano chile is frequently used with avocado, garlic, lime juice, cilantro and salt.

Potential substitutions for serrano chile in guacamole:
  • chile powder
  • scallions
Also, serrano chile is not often used with sour cream, cayenne pepper, vegetable oil and flour tortillas.

cumin

Image of cumin

Another popular ingredient in guacamole is cumin. From the recipes we've sampled for guacamole, over 10% have cumin.

Guacamole dishes often call for cumin to be ground.

In guacamole recipes that contain cumin, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

In recipes for guacamole, cumin is often used with avocado, onion, lime juice, cilantro and salt.

Potential substitutions for cumin in guacamole:
  • cayenne pepper
Also, cumin is not often used with white onion, sour cream, vegetable oil, flour tortillas and scallions.

black pepper

Image of black pepper

Black pepper is another common ingredient in guacamole dishes. In fact, over 10% of guacamole recipes contain black pepper.

In guacamole recipes that contain black pepper, it is on average, 0% by weight.

Onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt and avocado are commonly used together with black pepper in guacamole dishes. Conversely, black pepper is not often used with white onion, cayenne pepper, flour tortillas and scallions.

Other guacamole Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in guacamole recipes include:

  • scallions - 10%
  • cayenne pepper - 10%
  • flour tortillas - 10%
  • vegetable oil - 10%


Select Recipes for guacamole (Ingredients Only)

allrecipes.com
(4.8)
10 min
  • - 3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed
  • - 1 lime, juiced
  • - 1 teaspoon salt
  • - ½ cup diced onion
  • - 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • - 2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
  • - 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • - 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)
  • - 1/2 small white onion, finely chopped
  • - 1 serrano chile, finely diced 
  • - 3 ripe avocados 
  • - 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro 
  • - 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt 
  • - Juice of 2 limes 
  • - 1 large clove garlic, minced 
  • - Seeds from 1/2 medium pomegranate (about 1/2 cup) 
  • - 5 large Hass avocadoes (black in color,slightly soft to the press)
  • - 2 large limes, juice of
  • - 1 medium white onion (diced)
  • - 3/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro (chopped finely)
  • - 1 large tomatoes (Diced-make sure it isn't overly ripe)
  • - salt
  • - finely chopped fresh jalapeno (optional)
  • - 3 avocados, peeled, pitted, and roughly mashed
  • - 2 medium tomatillos, husked and small diced
  • - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • - 3 plum tomatoes, seeded and small diced
  • - 1 medium jalapeno, minced
  • - 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • - 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • - Salt and pepper to taste
  • - 3 ripe Hass avocados
  • - 1/3 cup pickled Japanese ginger
  • - 1/3 cup sour cream
  • - 1 1/4 tablespoons wasabi powder
  • - 1/4 cup scallions, white and light green parts only, finely chopped
  • - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • - 1 1/4 fresh lime juice
  • - 3 ripe avocados
  • - 1/2 large red onion, chopped
  • - Juice of 2 limes
  • - 1 habanero pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • - 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • - Salt and pepper to taste
  • - 1 tomato, seeded and cut into chunks
  • - 1 small yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • - 1 serrano chili, roughly chopped
  • - 1/2 cup picked cilantro leaves, finely chopped, divided
  • - 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • - 4 ripe avocados
  • - 2 tablespoons juice from 2 limes
cooking.nytimes.com
(5)
15 min
  • - 3 tablespoons chopped onion
  • - 1/2 teaspoon minced Serrano chili, or more, to taste
  • - 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
  • - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more, to taste
  • - 1 small vine-ripened tomato
  • - 1 ripe Hass avocado
  • - Tortilla chips for serving