Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados (preferably California)
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 fresh or pickled jalapeño chili if desired, seeded and minced (wear rubber gloves)
• 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro if desired

Instructions

1. Halve and pit the avocados and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash the avocados coarse with a fork and stir in the onion, the garlic paste, the lime juice, the cumin, the chili, and the cilantro. The guacamole may be made 2 hours in advance, its surface covered with plastic wrap, and chilled.