National Spicy Guacamole Day
A zesty, green blend that's not afraid to bring the heat, adding a fiery kick to everyone's favorite chips and snacks.
I suppose there are people who can pass up free guacamole, but they’re either allergic to avocado or too joyless to live
Frank Bruni
With a base of healthy avocados and the addition of hot spices and chilies, National Spicy Guacamole Day is surely worth celebrating and remembering!
History of National Spicy Guacamole Day
Guacamole dates back to probably around 500 years ago , to the time when the Aztec Empire was in Central America. Back then, however, the guacamole of those days might not have been as spicy, although no one is really sure. It was made up of a mixture of avocados, tomatoes and perhaps also used chilies, which would have certainly made it spicy.
Although the Spaniards explorers of the time seemed to love it and tried to take it back home with them, they had a hard time growing avocado trees in their native Spain. This left guacamole to be developed in Central America, eventually appearing as a popular food item on menus at Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants.
While the ban on Mexican avocados in the US kept guacamole at bay during the 20th century, after the late 1990s the ban was lifted. Much to everyone’s delight, guacamole then became more prolific when avocados became more affordable. In addition, the US population of Hispanics has increased significantly, perhaps bringing more demand for this delicious treat to the United States.
How to Celebrate National Spicy Guacamole Day
Getting involved in this day is loads of fun. Try out these ideas for celebrating and enjoying National Spicy Guacamole Day:
Make Spicy Guacamole at Home
Why not celebrate National Spicy Guacamole Day by giving that usual, standard guacamole recipe an authentic Mexican kick? Try out this Spicy Guacamole Recipe for fun:
Start with ripe avocados. Avocados are perfect when they are just soft to the touch, so can be bought and stored a few days before they need to be used.
For a spicy guacamole, take four ripe avocados, peel, seed and cut them into chunks. Place in a bowl and mash with a fork. Add half a teaspoon ground cumin, one large tomato, diced, one large white onion, peeled and finely chopped, two Serrano chilies, seeded and chopped, and four tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice.
Season to taste with hot pepper sauce, sea salt and ground black pepper. Stir together and pile into a serving bowl. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or various other delicious accompaniments. Enjoy!
Host a Mexican Themed Spicy Guacamole Party
Whether gathering coworkers together at lunchtime or getting neighbors and friends together in the backyard, National Spicy Guacamole Day is a perfect time to enjoy this treat inherited from Central American cultures.
Get the tortilla chips ready for dipping, of course. But don’t stop there! Make it an all-out party by adding in a variety of Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes that people love to eat with guacamole. Tacos. Burritos. Enchiladas. Fajitas. The list goes on and on!
Learn More About Avocados and Guacamole
In honor of National Spicy Guacamole Day, try sharing with friends and family these fun facts and bits of trivia based around the main ingredient of Spicy Guacamole:
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Avocados are not only delicious; they are also a very healthy food! Their succulent, creamy-white flesh is high in nutrients and has zero cholesterol. Plus, it has the most fiber content of any other fruit on the planet.
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Many people are surprised to discover that avocados actually come from the same tree family as cinnamon. (Lauraceae)
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The word “guacamole” is actually derived from an Aztec word, ahuacamolli, which meant “avocado soup” or “avocado sauce”. This seems rather appropriate!
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In the early 1900s, the avocado went by the strange name “alligator pear”, which probably didn’t help with its popularity. The rebranding of the name helped immensely.
Celebrating National Spicy Guacamole Day is not only a delicious activity, it’s also one that the body will appreciate as part of a healthy lifestyle!
