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Guasacaca
Guasacaca: Caracas-style avocado and herb sauce for grilled food
Every parrilla in Caracas puts a bowl of guasacaca on the table: avocado crushed with green pepper, onion, garlic, coriander and parsley, sharpened with vinegar until it is looser and tangier than guacamole. It goes on grilled meat and chorizo, but just as happily on arepas, empanadas, boiled yuca and grilled vegetables. The common mistake is blending it to a smooth mousse; it should keep a little texture. Chef's tip: make it no more than an hour ahead and press cling film onto the surface, so it stays bright green.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocadoshalved and stoned
- ½ green pepperchopped
- ½ onionsmall, chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 ají dulce (sweet chilli peppers)seeded; or a little more green pepper
- ½ oz fresh coriander
- ½ oz flat-leaf parsley
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 hot green chilli (optional)seeded
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (6)
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put ½ green pepper, ½ onion, 1 clove garlic, 2 ají dulce (sweet chilli peppers), ½ oz fresh coriander, ½ oz flat-leaf parsley, 3 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp salt and 1 hot green chilli in a blender or food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
3 minStep 2: Scoop in 2 ripe avocados and pulse 5–6 times, adding ¼ cup olive oil in a thin stream, until creamy but with small flecks of green still visible.
2 minStep 3: Taste: it should be sharp and salty enough to cut through grilled meat. Add more vinegar or salt if needed and serve within the hour.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does guasacaca take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ripe avocados?
- Mashed peas with lemon juice (for dips).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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