On Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria‘s character Gaby Solis would rather dine out at a five-star restaurant than get her hands dirty in her own kitchen. However when she isn’t starring on the small screen, food is a family affair, dating back to her childhood on a Texas ranch.
Today Longoria runs two restaurants and has written her first cookbook, Eva’s Kitchen, which is due to hit stores in early April. Among some of her favorite recipes, Longoria’s book offers personal anecdotes and family photos that chronicle her journey with food and cooking. In advance of the book’s launch, she shared some of her favorite recipes with Prevention.com, including her famous guacamole.
“I have a few tricks that give my guacamole great flavorand texture,” Longoria told Prevention. “First and most important, I use lemon juice instead of lime. Lemon has a little sweetness that brings out all the other flavors. Also key is to never skimp on the lemon or the kosher salt. Serrano peppers give it a great kick, much better than jalapeños. And finally, never stir as you add each ingredient to the bowl or the guacamole will become too watery.
“This is especially beautiful in a dish that shows off the guacamole’s green, white, and red colors, such as a molcajete–a Mexican mortar and pestle. Serve with tortilla chips as an appetizer or on top of steak,” Longoria said.
Chunky Guacamole With Serrano Peppers
Makes 8 cups
- 6 avocados, roughly chopped
- 4 med tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 lg white onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 c chopped cilantro (from 1 bunch)
- 1 serrano chile pepper, finely chopped
- Juice from 4 sm lemons (about 1/2 c)
Put avocados, tomatoes, onion, salt, cilantro, pepper, and lemon juice in large bowl. Stir gently until well combined.
Serving tip: To keep the guacamole from turning brown, press a pit from one of the avocados into the center of the dish. Remove it before serving.
Adapted from Eva’s Kitchen by Eva Longoria.
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