History of Guacamole – A Recipe from the Aztecs

Original post in spanish: https://www.facebook.com/MexicanosViviendoEnArgentina/posts/1598097910244799:0

Guacamole, a recipe driven by the Aztec civilization, is a nutritious dish that allows us to benefit from the properties of avocado. Guacamole, originally known as guacamol in Central America and Cuba, is a delicious avocado sauce from the Aztec civilization. The recipe, modified through the hand of the conquerors among European countries, has evolved according to geographical location in both uses and ingredients.

A rich delicacy that today we can cook easily and that deserves to be known. The name of the guacamole comes from the Nahuatl “Ahuacamolli”, a union of the words: “ahuacatl” (avocado) and “molli” (mole or sauce). According to mythology, the Toltec god Quetzalcoatl offered this recipe to his people and was later spread throughout Mesoamerica, located in eastern and central Mexico and Guatemala. For the Aztecs, the avocado had certain erotic connotations, a belief that prevented women from being part of the harvesting by considering it a symbol that represented the testicles.

Originally, guacamole was made from crushed avocado, water, lemon juice, tomato and chili, although different ingredients such as onion, cilantro or garlic have been added later. The customs of consumption vary according to the geographical place in which we find ourselves. Thus, in Mexico it is used to accompany different types of meat, tacos or cakes, while in other countries such as Venezuela, it is also used to combine with the various types of roasts. Different is the case of countries such as the United States, Australia or some regions of Asia. In these areas, given the high export cost of avocado, the recipe is implemented with other foods such as mayonnaise to increase the volume of the sauce.

The guacamole came late to Europe, driven mainly by the conquerors. In the case of Spain, thanks to the high production of avocados in areas such as Malaga, Granada or Gran Canaria Axarquia, we can enjoy this tasty recipe and benefit from all the properties of this tropical fruit, which helps reduce cholesterol levels and triglycerides, increasing the good cholesterol by the presence of monounsaturated fats. It is also a natural antioxidant for the skin.