Remember our warm avocado greeting? To be honest, comparatively, Texas does not grow very many avocados. In the US, avocadoes are mainly grown in California and Florida or imported from Mexico and Chile. True, we are much closer to all those places than when we lived in Canada.
One of Rob’s self-imposed goals this year was to perfect guacamole while we live in the land close to avocados. However, after making this, our plans have been put on hold. This is just too good. Better than guacamole and even simpler. A seemingly crazy concoction of avocado and kimchi with a bit of tang from citrus juice (we’ve used both lime and orange juice with good success). The spicy, tangy kimchi works well with the creamy avocado and sweet orange juice or tart lime juice.
Just like guacamole, it is a great dip and a flavourful topper paired with flavourful dishes like pupusas.
I wish I could take credit for this wonderful dip, but I stole it from Joe Yonan’s new cookbook Eat Your Vegetables. While it isn’t vegan, it is a vegetarian cookbook aimed to help the single cook. The recipes are geared for 1-2 people, with tips on how to use up odds and ends from cooking. Personally, I am a big fan of leftovers, but I can appreciate the value of fresh, flavourful cooking throughout the week. His recipes span super simple, such as this one, to more elaborate fare that I could not imagine cooking just for one. All look bold on flavours. I also enjoyed his laissez-faire recipes, teaching you to listen to your food on the stove, instead of the prescribed directions. He’ll direct you to saute your onions until brown instead of “for 10 minutes”.
Need other ideas for kimchi? Joe includes a recipe for homemade kimchi but also has you covered in case you get bored of guaca-chi: Sweet Potato, Kimchi and Greens Hash; Kimchi Deviled Eggs; Cold Spicy Ramen Noodles with Tofu and Kimchi and even Grilled Kimcheese. Of course, you could also try my Enoki, Broccoli and Tofu Bowl with Kimchi.
PS. A few people commented on my last kimchi post, but I wanted to highlight that yes, indeed, kimchi is usually not vegan nor vegetarian. There is usually shrimp or fish sauce in it. Making it at home is great (I should really do that again) but there are vegan versions out there.
This is my submission to Weekend Herb Blogging, hosted by Simona and this week’s Raw Food Thursday.
Guaca-Chi (Guacamole with Kimchi)
Adapted from Eat Your Vegetables (original recipe here)
1 avocado, chopped
2 tbsp lime juice (or any citrus juice – orange juice is good, too)
1/4 cup kimchi with liquid, chopped into bite-sized pieces, or to taste
salt, to taste
1. Mix all ingredients together. Season to taste. Add more kimchi, if desired.
Makes 1 cup.
the taste space 
I have never had kimchi but I suspect if I did have some this would be the way I would like to eat it – sounds amazing!
Who need prefect traditional guac? I’ll take this any day! I can imagine how good the cool, creamy avocado is against the kimchi.
I love kimchi. What a clear idea!
OH MAN. I may have to go get some kimchi as immediately as possible. 🙂
Janet, once again you beat me to it! The library had Joe’s new cookbook, but I deliberately didn’t check it out/look through it because on September 1st, he is doing a cooking demo/book presentation at a local literary festival (very excited about this since for years the cooking demos were nothing I was interested in—and now I can take my vegan Meetup to this!).
Kimchi and avocado—both uber-healthy/delicious foods—what’s nice to like? I was wondering if this could be made into a main dish, like on top of black rice—maybe with some tempeh/tofu? Andy thinks not—that it should just be a dip. You be the tie-breaker….
Hey Ellen, Oh that sounds like a fun meet-up! I think you could use it as you would guacamole… we had it overtop black bean-stuffed arepas and it was really good and I imagine any Mexican-themed dish could work, be that a rice bowl with black bean and tomato salsa. Let me know how it goes. I think you will really like it 🙂
HOLY YES.
I think you’d really like this, Hannah. 🙂
WOW. How did you know I just bought an avocado AND kimchi? Buying a lime on the way home!
Awesome! Let me know how you like it, Gabby. I think it will be right up your alley. 🙂
Wow that looks great!
I met Joe Yonan earlier this year and he was awesome! I can’t wait to get my hands on his cookbook, especially if there are oodles of recipes like this in it. So innovative!
I love my kimchi naked.
Naked kimchi is good, too, for sure. 🙂
So many kimchi ideas turning up around the place! I’m going to have to get my act together and try it!
yum – what a great idea!
Better than guacamole? How is that possible? Of course I’m going to trust you, but I’m still going to have to taste for myself. Darn. 🙂
Do it! 🙂
I belong to the “just let me have avocado” party, so I suspect I’d like this concoction. Thank you so much for contributing to Weekend Herb Blogging.
Hmmm I’ve heard a lot of people talking about the health benefits of kimchi, I’ve never tried it myself yet though. I’m curious to give it a try – and pairing it with guaccamole sounds like the way to go to try it out for the first time =)
YUM. Perfect on tacos…or alone.
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Absolutely love the orange juice here. I’m a guacoholic and this idea just made my New Years!
Thanks so much for sharing in the Linky Potluck and Happy New Year!
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