Cottage Cheese Guacamole

Avocado and cottage cheese dip.

Guacamole is an avocado based dip, originated in Mexico. Traditionally, it is made by mashing avocado along with onion, chillies, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, tomato and salt in a mortar and pestle and served with tortilla chips. You can also serve this dip with veggies like carrot, celery.

I have never eaten avocado before, so was little apprehensive about its taste and making a dip with it. Nevertheless I decided to make the classic Guacamole with the avocado. I added some cottage cheese to give a creamy and cheesy texture. The dip was yummy and bursting with flavors.

Some useful facts and tips about avocado and guacamole:

Avocado is a pear-shaped fruit with a yellow-green, smooth and buttery flesh. Avocados are a good source of vital nutrients, bone supportive vitamin K, vitamins B, E and folate. They are rich in fiber and healthy fats while naturally low in sugar and sodium.

How to choose avocado for guacamole?

Avocados must be perfectly ripe for a good guacamole. Unripe avocados have bright green skin and ripe ones have a deep purplish-black skin. Check for ripeness by gently pressing the outside of the avocado. If the avocado gives in, it’s ripe. If there is no give in, it’s not ripe. If the avocado feels very soft to the touch it may be very overripe.

(Image source: Hass Avacados)

How to store guacamole?

Serve guacamole immediately after preparing. For later use, chill it. To store guacamole, place it in an air-tight container, squeeze some lemon juice on top and cover with a plastic wrap on the surface of the guacamole before covering to help prevent oxidation. Store in the refrigerator. If refrigerated guacamole turns brown during storage, discard the top, browned layer and enjoy the rest.

And a debatable question. Is cottage cheese and paneer same? I thought they are the same, but there are minute differences. Both are soft cheese made from milk, but cottage cheese has a curd-like texture and not pressed unlike paneer which is pressed and made into blocks. Cottage cheese has salt, whereas paneer has no salt.

Off to the recipe!

Ingredients:

Ripe avocado – 1
Low fat cottage cheese – 4 tbsp
Garlic – 1, finely chopped
Red onion – 2 tbsp, finely chopped
Jalapeño – 1, de-seeded and finely chopped
Cilantro – 2 to 3 sprigs
Juice of half a lime/lemon
Salt – to taste
Pepper – to taste
Tortilla chips

Method:

1. Slice the avocado in the middle and scoop out the flesh. Mash it well.

2. Add cottage cheese and again mash well.

3. Add jalapeño, cilantro, onion, lime juice and blend everything in a mixie or food processor till smooth.

4. Transfer to a bowl, add salt & pepper and mix.

Serve with tortilla chips.