Chunky Guacamole with Cumin

Choosing a guacamole recipe that will please everybody is no easy task, but this one stands out with its unique blend of subtle tartness, nicely balanced heat, and a creamy-chunky texture that's hard to resist. Finely minced jalapeño and garlic spice things up, but the freshly ground, toasted cumin seeds give this chunky guacamole recipe its true character. Dare we say, it’s the secret ingredient of this festive dish. Now, all you need is a bag of study tortilla chips that can handle the heat.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

When rock-hard avocados are testing your patience, there are a few avocado ripening tricks that actually work. One of the best methods entails stashing the avocado in a paper bag along with an apple, banana, or kiwi. These fruits release high levels of ethylene gas that help expedite the avocado ripening process.

To ensure the dish is balanced and appropriately seasoned, taste the guacamole as you go and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you prefer a spicier guacamole dish, add more jalapeño seeds instead of discarding them. On the other hand, you may find that a pinch or two more of salt will help balance the dish and highlight its acidity and spiciness even better.