GUACAMOLE AND HOMEMADE TORTILLAS

Leia em PORTUGUÊS

Ever since I was a child, I never liked eating avocados. In Brazil, avocados are traditionally eaten sweet, either as dessert with lemon and sugar or as a smoothie. However, I have always liked the color and the texture of avocados, and felt really sorry that, no matter how hard I tried, I didn't like the taste.

Not very long ago I was introduced to Guacamole, a Mexican avocado based dip. This was when I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I LOVE avocados.... savory! This is so easy to make and so delicious. And, if you are not pressed with time and want to try your hand at some homemade tortillas, they are worth every minute of extra work.

GUACAMOLE

1 large ripe avocado (it's best if not VERY ripe)

2 tomatoes seeded and finely chopped

1 onion finely chopped

1 small green bell pepper finely chopped

1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)

1 tsp salt

Chili pepper to taste

Cut the avocado in half and remove the stone. Scoop out the pulp and mash it in a large bowl. Alternatively, you can use a food processor, but taking care not to make a puree. It is ideally a little chunky. Add all other ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate until it is ready to be served.

TORTILLAS

1 cup yellow corn meal (I used instant polenta)

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup water (approx)

In a bowl, combine corn meal, all purpose flour and salt. Add butter and work with a fork to incorporate butter into dry ingredients until crumbly. Add water, little by little (you may not need all of the water, or you might need to add a little bit). After you have incorporated about half of the water, stop using the fork and use your fingers, until a ball of dough forms. It shouldn't be dry, nor sticky. Divide the dough into small balls the size of a walnut. Cover with plastic wrap. 

Roll each ball into a very thin circle

If you get the correct amount of water into the dough, It will roll easily without sticking to the counter. I rolled it over a plastic cutting board. It worked really well.

Preheat a skillet and cook the circles on low heat until it starts browning, on both sides. Turn it over a cutting board and cut it immediately with a pizza slicer. If you don't cut it immediately, it will get crisp and will break easily.

If not using right away, let it cool and store in an airtight container. I have never figured out for how long, they never last more than a couple of days :o)