6 Easy Additions to Instantly Upgrade Your Guac

Mango Guacamole

Fresh guacamole trumps all other dips in my food-iverse. Ever since discovering the glory of this so-simple, so satisfying mashed magic as a middle school tween, I've been hooked. My sister's boyfriend (at the time) was "culinarily-inclined" and brought over a bounty of ripe Hass avocados, along with fresh tomatoes, lime, onion, and cilantro and convinced us to try something new. This was right before the onset of the ongoing U.S. guacamole craze, so to this day I pride myself with getting on board before it went completely mainstream. #hip

Needless to say, we loved it, and I've remained obsessed ever since (though my sister lost her obsession with her chef-wannabe suitor, we will always have the guac).

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Now, whether you like your guacamole packed with flavor from traditional additions like cilantro, garlic, lime juice, diced onions, and tomatoes OR you opt to let simplicity shine with little more than a pinch of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lime sprinkled over your mashed avocado, you really can't go wrong . . . but could you maybe go even more right? A new NYC taco spot opened doors this week and behind those doors awaits ELEVEN types of inventive guacamole variations--not to mention a rotating list of top-shelf tequila. I do believe I have found my little piece of heaven on earth. And if you likewise consider yourself an adventurous and dedicated guac-enthusiast (I swear I've considered adding it to my Insta profile), you're probably looking up flights to NYC right now. But if you're not a rabid guacamole fiend or maybe you're just now learning to appreciate the beauty of a simple avocado, you probably aren't ready to make the leap to tequila-infused guacamole just yet.

Wherever you are on your walk with guac, I would encourage you to take away some inspiration from Guac NYC's adventurous spirit, and open yourself to the idea that maybe your guacamole can be more. It's super-easy to amp up your own guac at home and experiment with a variety of flavor additions. When I'm feeling a little frisky, these are my favorite ingredients to upgrade my go-to guacamole recipe:

If I can achieve just one thing today, I hope it's to convert you to Bacon Guacamole. Sounds crazy, I know, but this is NOT just another addition to the bacon-makes-everything-better train. I wasn't a believer either, that is until my first bite. Crispy fried bacon adds delicious salty-savory crunch and the smokiness adds a wonderful depth of flavor.

Watch as we make Bacon Guacamole live on Facebook:

Mango Guacamole

Offering sweet and tangy notes, bright tropical mangos perfectly balance the rich and creamy avocado. Try this guac as a dip with chips or as a topping for fish or chicken tacos. For a step-by-step guide to mango prep, here's how to achieve perfect cubes:

Yep, I'm gonna keep rolling with the fruit here. But we can take this one step further and serve the sweet-savory strawberry guac with homemade Cinnamon Tortilla Chips. This guacamole is definitely on the chunky side--so if you prefer it creamier, simply mash your avocados before stirring in the chopped strawberries. Pro tip: Make the chips in advance, cool completely, and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

OK this isn't revolutionary, I get it. But stirring in a few tablespoons of prepared salsa is an easy, smart way to upgrade flavor in standard guacamole (even using store bought if you want to save extra time) and bypass chopping up tomatoes and onions, etc.

To add a punch of brilliantly-sweet and simple flavor, just stir in 1/2 cup of cooked fresh corn kernels (from corn charred on the grill, ideally). If that's not quite Tex-Mex enough for you, add some black beans too. So you don't slice your hand open in the process of creating your bowl-full of delicious, corn-infused guac, here's the proper way to cut corn off the cob:

Mad-Delicious Sriracha

Do I even need a rationale here? Sriracha makes literally everything better. But, really, to pack in some heat, either mix in a few teaspoons of Sriracha (or your other favorite hot sauce) or drizzle some over the top.