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green tea guacamole with homemade purple tortilla chips on wooden tray

Super-green matcha tea-enhanced guacamole – traditional recipe, but with a superfood twist. 

guacamole with hand holding purple tortilla chip with bit of guacamole on it

Today’s post is quite literally stuffed with my favourite tips for not only making the best guacamole, but also how to choose matcha tea. Both can be very simple, but I hope my years’ of experience making guacamole (30+ years) and drinking matcha (10+ years) may add to your knowledge base. If you would like to add your own advice and tips, please do leave a comment at the bottom of this post! I love hearing from you. Now, let’s hit that guac!

On the face of it guacamole is one of the easiest things to make. It certainly is a recipe of few ingredients and minimal equipment. In fact, here are the basic instructions: mash ripe avocados, then add some finely chopped onion, minced garlic and a goodly amount of fresh lime juice. Definitely some salt. Serve. Or sneak it away to some quiet spot and enjoy its rich, green gorgeousness solo with a bag of tortilla chips. 🙂

But to make a really good batch we need to read between the lines. Make some crucial decisions. Yes, really.

portrait image of green tea enhanced guacamole and fresh accompaniments on concrete backdropHow to make a really good guacamole

A really good guacamole starts in the market. Whether you want to make a small bowl – probs needing 2 fat avocados – or a party-sized batch, you really need to inspect each avocado. If you can buy them loose, do so. Look for an evenly coloured fruit with no dents, blemishes or flat areas.

Your avocados need to be perfectly ripe. Goldilocks ripe. Your aim is to get fruits that when halved reveal flesh as spreadable as butter. And tasting not dissimilar. Creamy, irresistible flesh, vividly green.

So, how to know if it’s ripe?

Picking tips There are a few, but my go-to is holding each one in the palm of my hand and applying even pressure from my fingers – no poking with fingertips as this will bruise it. If the avocado yields easily and evenly, without the sense of any pockets of air or mushiness, it’s probably a good ‘un. If it gives but not so readily, this would be fine for making your guacamole in 2-3 day’s time. No give, put it back. It may never ripen properly. You could always sit it in with a bunch of bananas where its ripening gases will do its best. Or pop them in a paper bag. Once you have your ripe avocados, either use them on the day of purchase or refrigerate up to three days.

mashing avocados in a glass bowlAnother tip is if the little stem end nub flicks off easily, it should be ripe. I prefer the gentle pressure method. Different varietals have their own idiocyncrasies though. This advice applies mainly to the popular, nubbly, purpleish-black hass avocado. Here is a good page on knowing avocado varieties.

You can also read my Simple Guacamole + Tips On How to Choose An Avocado for more information – and a super simple recipe with menu of optional add-ins and uses.

Another tip is that you need to use room temperature avocados. Referencing the butter analogy again, use your avocados as you would butter for baking. Most recipes call for a room temp butter to make it easier to blend. This is true here, but also the refrigerator really, really inhibits the flavour of avocados. But if your avos are a bit chilly, mash them directly on a chopping board rather than in a bowl. This keeps them from slipping around. The same goes for if avocados are not evenly ripe – they tend to be harder at the ends if not perfectly ripe, and are more difficult to mash in a bowl. Or use a big pestle and mortar.

To tomato or not tomato. Tomatoes in guacamole are a no-no for some and a nice addition for others. I am in the latter camp. But I bow to the purists among you. I wouldn’t however add tomato to a guacamole that will not be immediately demolished in a hail of tortilla chip dive bombings.

And what of chillies and cilantro? These are also optional extras. Sometimes I add freshly toasted and ground cumin seeds too.

ripe avocados with matcha green tea in a glass bowlMatcha – a new way to flavour your guacamole + know your matchas

But, in this recipe, I am amping the enticing green of the avocado with a little matcha to make Matcha Guacamole. Or, Matchamole. Basically I’ve discovered that my favourite drink also makes a great natural food colouring. And depending on how much you add, and the type, you will get an intriguingly grassy, herbaceous taste, too. I can’t think it really adds much nutritionally as this guacamole is intended to serve 6; and the amount divided amongst the servings is minimal. But, again, if you are keeping it to yourself, consider the benefits it may add.

Find out more about matcha in my post Tropical Matcha Yogurt Breakfast Bowl + 6 Benefits of Matcha.

What may influence the taste impact of matcha on your guac, beyond the amount added, is the type of matcha you use.

matcha tea by kellie anderson kelliesfoodtoglow.comThe two main types you will come across are Ceremonial and Culinary. Some people think that culinary is just an inferior version of the hallowed ceremonial. But the differences are really in the uses. You can get a rubbish ceremonial, as you can get a high-quality culinary.

Culinary matcha is often lighter in colour compared to ceremonial. Also called cooking grade, this matcha is made to use with other ingredients. It is strong and bitter, holding up well in smoothies, chocolates, baking, popcorn and just about anything you can think of. It is not a subtle form, but it does “play well with others.” You will not be able to see the colour until you open the tin or foil packet but know that yellow-green rather than blue green usually means it is culinary grade. This type needs sweetening if it is used in drinks, such as hot tea, smoothies and lattes. It is the most popular type in the US.

Ceremonial grade is the only kind that is used in Japanese tea ceremonies. It is grassy-sweet and mild compared to culinary matcha, needing no sweetener to make it palatable to Western tastebuds. It also is often at least triple the price. And you need to use 3-4 times the amount when adding it to recipes. Usually. There are always differences between processors and batches. I tend to like my matcha subtle so I stick with ceremonial for all purposes, adding a bit more if needed. I can always tell when I’m out and having a matcha latte when they have used culinary rather than pricier ceremonial. It is too strong for my liking. I think this is because we expect to see a vivid green so they add more of the culinary to try and achieve this aesthetic. Just no.

Another little word of wisdom is about packaging. Foil packets in the tin are often a sign of a better product as this really protects the matcha until the foil is scissored open and you decant it into the storage tin. I can’t recall a tin of loose matcha, or plastic/paper pouch that was any match for matcha that comes sealed in foil.

Use either grade in this Matcha Guacamole recipe. I would start with the amount stated and adjust upward if needed. I’ve written it for culinary grade as this is the most affordable and most commonly available in shops. I buy (Amazon affiliate link) ceremonial grade organic Kineta brand online. Love, love, love this stuff. I’ve tried countless brands and I’m sticking with this one for the foreseeable.matcha guacamole in small bowl with purple tortiall chips, lime halves and matcha tea powder in tiny bowl alongside

This blog is peppered with recipe using avocados and matcha green tea. My recipe index needs an overhaul but if you can bear it, have a mosey around. Or click here on avocado recipes and/or matcha recipes to refine the search.

PS I use a technique similar to that described here for homemade tortilla chips, adding linseeds, cumin seeds and smoked salt before baking. And I buy Cool Chile brand corn tortillas (UK).

***So, are you Team Matcha? Which kind do you prefer, and what’s your favourite use for it, beyond drinking it straight.***

 

Whether on PinterestInstagramFacebookTwitter or of course here on the blog, I love to see what you do with my recipes, and I welcome your comments, star ratings, tweaks and suggestions on this Matcha Guacamole, and any of my other 600+ recipes. 

Also, if you’ve made/intend to make this recipe, please do consider rating it as it will make this recipe more visible on search engines. To do so, click the appropriate star underneath the small photo on the recipe card, below. Thank you!**landscape image of green tea guacamole with homemade tortilla chips and fresh ingredients

green tea guacamole with homemade purple tortilla chips on wooden tray
5 from 3 votes
Print

Matcha Guacamole

Super-green matcha green tea-enhanced guacamole - traditional recipe, but with a superfood twist.

Course Snack
Cuisine Mexican, Party food, vegan
Keyword green tea, guacamole, matcha
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 126 kcal
Author kellie anderson

Ingredients

  • 2 large avocados ripe
  • 2 medium tomatoes ripe
  • 1/2 small red onion finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeño pepper optional; finely chopped
  • 2 tsp matcha tea aka green tea powder - more to taste; see notes
  • 1 lime juiced OR lemon; more to taste
  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt or 1/2 tsp fine salt

Instructions

  1. Use a sharp knife to slice the avocados all the way around from stem end to bulbous end. Twist to separate the two halves. Carefully embed the knife into the pit and twist to remove the pit. Scoop out the soft green avocado flesh and pop into a bowl or onto a chopping board; discard the skin and pit.

  2. Mash the avocado with a fork or potato masher then add the remaining ingredients. If you are using a chopping board, mash the avo on the board and scrape into a mixing bowl. If your avocados aren't perfectly ripe, this is often the easiest option to keep the firmer avo from slipping around in a bowl.

  3. Mix well and adjust the taste to your liking. Sometimes a squeeze of lemon - yes, with the lime already in - is a magic ingredient. It really depends on the avocado though.

Recipe Notes

The ripest avocados are ones that give slightly under pressure and where colour underneath the stem "nub" is beige rather than green.

 

Feel free to use either "ceremonial" or "culinary" (or if it's not branded as ceremonial) matcha tea. Ceremonial is a higher grade with a more delicate flavour, and is usually a deeper green. But the cheaper culinary type is perfect for this recipe, so if you have it and think it is too bitter to drink, try it in this recipe. 

Nutrition Facts
Matcha Guacamole
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 126 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 395mg17%
Potassium 447mg13%
Carbohydrates 9g3%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 3g6%
Calcium 18mg2%
Vitamin C 16.7mg20%
Vitamin A 515IU10%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

RIPE FOR PINNING!

Long image of matcha green tea guacamole and fresh accompaniments plus tortilla chips

 

 

 

5 thoughts on “Matcha Guacamole + how to make really good guacamole *and* choose matcha tea

  1. Mr A says:

    Guacamole just got greener and more gorgeous!!! Brilliant

  2. Julie Fitzpatrick says:

    This is the real deal!

  3. Katie @ Whole Nourishment says:

    Gorgeous, vibrant photos! I’ve never been into matcha but I know where I’ll send clients for a trusted resource guide when they ask! Thank you Kellie.

  4. Now that is super clever! What a brilliant idea and it looks incredible 🙂

  5. Fiona Manoon says:

    Healthy and tasty thing to eat.
    Glad to know about this dish.
    I must appreciate your creativity.
    Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe with us.
    Keep Blogging

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