Guacamole is a food that has exploded onto the UK food scene after being considered relatively obscure in the 1990s. The Mexican avocado-based food works great as a dip, spread or in a salad, with chef Jamie Oliver claiming that it is “delicious with fajitas, quesadillas, dolloped into a wrap or served as a snack with crunchy veggies.”
But many people have discovered a simple ingredient that takes it to the next level. Made with avocado, salt, lime juice, onion, and jalapenos, the popular cuisine has countless extras that can be added to enhance the already rich flavour. One such ingredient that has had people fawning over its simplicity and increased taste is cumin.
Cumin is a spice derived from the seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant, a member of the parsley family and is known for its warm, earthy, and slightly bitter flavour.
The spice can be found across Mexican, African and Indian cuisine, offering an abundance of variety in any kitchen.
One Reddit user described the spice as a “perfect fit” for guacamole.
They said: “I usually put in a dash. Cumin is earthy and helps to bring out some spice… perfect fit.”
Another added: “Cumin tastes good with everything.”
Not only does the spice enhance the taste of guacamole, but it is also believed to have health benefits, making it a win-win when added to the dish.
The spice aids digestion is a rich source of iron and some believe that it can help to treat diabetes.
Other health benefits include improving blood cholesterol by reducing unhealthy blood triglycerides, promoting weight loss and fat reduction and studies in mice have shown that it could help with drug dependence by potentially reducing addictive behaviour and withdrawal symptoms.
Guacamole has a tendency to turn brown after a day, but there are methods that can slow down the rate at which it turns.
Using a spatula to smooth the surface can reduce the amount of air bubbles within it whilst covering the surface of the guacamole with a thin layer of lemon or lime juice can allow the citrus acid to prevent oxidation.
Additionally, a plastic wrap can create an airtight seal which will also slow down the rate of discolouration.
