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There are very few things that ever make me think of moving from Upstate NY. We both grew up here, and despite the rough winter we’re having this year, we enjoy all of the seasons in their turn.
But then there are avocados. If you are trying to grow or raise as much of your own food as you can, avocados can be a bit of a brick wall when you live where we do. Along with citrus, shrimp and Shiraz, it’s never going to happen here – we live far from the ocean and our climate is never going to support lemon trees, Shiraz grapes … or avocados.
I can’t bear to give up any of those things though, so I just have to hope that our other habits make up for eating a few things that could never come from our part of the country. The availability of avocados is pretty amazing, considering that as recently as maybe 10 years ago, they were hard to find for most of the year, and incredibly expensive when you did find them. This is one trend that I applaud loudly, because nothing cheers you up on a cold wintry day like a big salad with avocados in it – or a big bowl of this Spicy Avocado Dip.
We eat an obscene amount of guacamole, but sometimes we like a bit of a change. Creamier and a little richer than guacamole, this dip is fantastic with all kinds of chips and we also love it with quesadillas and tacos or fajitas.
Spicy Avocado Dip
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup homemade or jarred salsa [this Green Tomato Jalapeno Salsa is our favorite]
- 1 garlic clove
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 1/2 – 3 teaspoons green jalapeno hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Cut the avocados in half and scoop flesh into a bowl.
- Mash coarsely with a fork or potato masher.
- To the mashed avocado, add the sour cream and salsa.
- Chop the garlic clove very finely, or use a microplane to mince it right into the bowl.
- Add the lime juice, the hot sauce [use the smaller amount of hot sauce and taste before adding more], and the salt.
- Chop the cilantro leaves fairly finely and mix in. Enough to suit your own taste - I used a couple tablespoons.
- Blend everything together with a wooden spoon, taking care to leave a bit of the chunky texture.
- Chill for a hour or so to blend the flavors, stir and taste.
- Add more salt or hot sauce as needed.
- Serve right away - to store, press plastic wrap right on the surface of the dip and use within 24 hours for best flavor.
You don’t even care about the weather with a big bowl of this to snack on! Now if someone would just breed an avocado tree that grows in NY!
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I too am delighted Avocados have become so readily available. So healthy and so good, what else could a “girl” ask for, lol…Well, perhaps this Spicy Dip! It sounds like just what I need to warm me up this chilly day:)
Since moving to PA, there are many foods I miss that we had available on Long Island. I’m slowly getting use to it but it will take a while. Upstate New York has so much to offer, I’m thinking Finger Lake wine charm for one, perhaps one day avocados will grow well there too. (the seasons they are a changin:)
Thanks for sharing, Donalyn…
The nearby wineries are definitely go a long way to make up for not being able to grow lemons! And the closest one has two of my favorite “guzzlin'” wines!
I haven’t been by your blog in a while and it looks like I picked the perfect day!! What a delicious looking dip this is! have to check with the man of the house, but I think it would make a great addition to our Super Bowl menu! Thanks, Donalyn and all the best!
Thanks Bebe – hope you guys love it!
I am a big fan of Avocados. Considering I did not even know about them until I moved to the US a few years ago, I suppose i can call myself a big fan of avocados.
I love this quick fix recipe .. when there is a game on.. this will go perfect with anything!! Thanks for sharing!
Ansh – thanks so much and it really does go great with tons of things!
I’d totally move to Upstate if one day you figure out a way to grow avocado there! I LOVE avocado dips but I have to admit that it’s the word spicy that really caught my attention! I’ll probably mix in extra jalapeno to get that extra kick!! Great post!
An extra jalapeno would not go amiss in this at all 🙂
I too love avocados and wish I could have them all the time…this sounds and looks so yummy Donalyn!
Thanks Donna – we are kind if in the same boat when it comes to being able to grow them – more’s the pity!
It’s a shame we can’t all grow Avocados. They are somewhat perfect food. And I’m loving your creamy version of Guacamole. Pinning this one to add to my menu for Sunday’s big game (Go Broncos) Thanks for stopping by my blog and the comment. So glad to find your site. I’m a new subscriber.
Hi Lea Ann – glad to have found your blog and nice to meet you – hope you enjoy the game – and the dip!
I love, love avocado dips and this one looks perfect to me!
Thanks Katerina!
It’d be a tough call — move to someplace where you can grow avocados. But have to give up the apples? (Yeah, I know you can get apples everywhere, but not the quality and variety that’s available to you.) Lucky thing most stores carry pretty good avocados these days. Great dip — really nice recipe. Thanks.
You are right about that John – and we do live a very short drive from the Cornell Orchards which is like the best place to get apples in the whole world! Maybe Cornell can breed a zone 5 avocado tree?:D
My hubby would love this dip, he loves a bit of chili. We are waiting on our avocados to ripen at the moment but looking forward to when they do. Looks good.
Color me jealous Lizzie!
Guacamole is one of those dips that one could eat “an obscene ” amount of. 🙂 What a delicious variation on a great dip!
Thanks MJ!
We eat TONS of avocados in our house!! Love this recipe!
Thanks Ashley – I hope you get to give it a try!
I’m avocado crazy and would devour this! I want to move to CA to have all kinds of fruit trees, but you can have a mini citrus tree in your house wherever you live. I have one, but it has yet to produce any fruit yet.
Oh the perfect fish taco, which I haven’t had in months is the perfect vehicle for this heavenly dip.