Over the years, the avocado salsa vs. guacamole debate has graced many a dinner table. There are so many similarities between these two Mexican staples that some find it challenging to tell them apart. And many believe these two dishes to be one and the same. This article aims to put the avocado salsa vs. guacamole debate to rest.
What is Avocado Salsa?
Sometimes referred to as guacamole salsa, avocado salsa has existed in Mexican cuisine for centuries. In fact, the dish is believed to have been developed by the Aztecs in the 1500s.
At its core, it comprises mashed avocado, tomatillo fruit, and seasoning. Some may also include ingredients such as onions, chili peppers, or cilantro. The tomatillo is similar to green tomatoes but is related to the cape gooseberry and is native to Mexico.
The mashed avocado and tomatillo are mixed together in a blender until smooth. As such, avocado salsa has a relatively thin, sauce-like consistency. The dish is often used as a sauce topping or dip.
What is Guacamole?
The more widely recognized guacamole dish has become synonymous with Mexican food worldwide. And it shares a similar history with avocado salsa, with its origins traced back to the time of the Aztecs.
Like avocado salsa, the foundation of guacamole is mashed avocado, to which several ingredients are added. Traditional guacamole includes diced tomatoes, onions, serrano peppers, cilantro, and fresh lime juice.
These ingredients are simply mixed together to produce everyone’s favorite Mexican dip, guacamole.
Avocado Salsa Vs. Guacamole: What’s the Difference?
While both avocado salsa and guacamole are Mexican staples with mashed avocado as their base, they are very different dishes.
Below we break down these fundamental differences as we compare avocado salsa vs. guacamole:
Ingredients:
There are just a few ingredients when it comes to traditional avocado salsa. They are mashed avocado, tomatillos, and salt and pepper to taste.
On the other hand, guacamole traditionally comprises a handful of ingredients. These include mashed avocado, onion, tomato, serrano pepper, cilantro, and fresh lime juice.
Preparation:
The mashed avocado, tomatillos, and seasoning are combined when making avocado salsa. They are then blended in a blender until the salsa is a creamy, smooth consistency.
However, the onions, tomatoes, serrano peppers, and cilantro in guacamole are finely diced. They are then mixed into the mashed avocado with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Texture:
Due to the blending process, avocado salsa is decidedly thinner and smoother than guacamole.
Guacamole is, however, naturally chunkier due to the bits of diced onion, tomato, and chili pepper.
Flavor:
The tomatillos in avocado salsa deliver a level of tangy acidity that provides balance to the creamy avocado flavor. While the lime juice in guacamole brings a similar acidity and balance to the table, the flavor is sharper.
In addition, the cilantro adds an earthy element to the guacamole. And the serrano peppers deliver a spicy and somewhat sweet smokey flavor. Hence, the flavor of guacamole is more complex.
Conclusion
Despite having the same core ingredient, everything else about these two dishes is far from the same. And with our above guide, you’ll know the difference next time you’re faced with an avocado salsa vs. guacamole debate.