What's the line between salsa and guacamole?

What's the line between salsa and guacamole? - Green Grass

I know there is guacamole dip you can buy in the store refrigerator case. I know there's guacamole itself. I know there's jarred "guacamole style salsa" which is a smooth salsa with avocado in it. But where is the line where guacamole becomes a salsa and a salsa becomes guacamole?



Best Answer

Part of the problem is that "salsa" doesn't mean just one thing to everyone. If you do a web search for "avocado salsa" you get images ranging from liquid to chunky:

Creamy Avocado Salsa Mexican Food Journal
Avocado Salsa Food Network

Similarly, there's no one "correct" way to make guacamole. Some people like it smooth and thick - hummus-like, if you will, other people like it partially mashed and partially chunky... almost the same as the chunky-style salsa.

Guacamole Serious Eats
Guacamole Autentico

So, how do we set limits if the products are so varied?

We really can't. I could write long "definitions" claiming that guacamole should be X% avocado and must be mashed in an authentic molcajete rather than in chunks or pureed... that salsas should be X% or less avocado and must contain things like tomato, onion, tomatillo... but you'll always be able to find something that calls itself "salsa" but seems more like "guacamole" or the other way around.

The important thing is, it's all delicious. Enjoy it!


The other part of your problem is that guacamole is a kind of salsa. From Wikipedia:

Salsa is the Spanish, Italian, Greek and Turkish (salça) term for sauce, and in English-speaking countries usually refers to the sauces typical of Mexican cuisine known as salsas picantes, particularly those used as dips. Salsa, contrary to common belief, is in fact not a condiment, although it may be used to flavor various food items.

Salsa is often a tomato-based sauce or dip that is a heterogeneous mixture that includes additional ingredients such as onions, chilies, beans, corn, and various spices. It is typically piquant, ranging from mild to extremely hot.

If you look under the "types", you will find guacamole.

Guacamole is thicker than a sauce and generally used as a dip; it refers to any sauce where the main ingredient is avocado.

You'll also find "Creamy avocado salsa".

Creamy avocado salsa is a sauce made from avocado, lime, cilantro, jalapeño or serrano peppers, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and salt.

Still, they're both "salsas".

So, in the end, there is no way to separate the two... though, if I were at a restaurant and order "guacamole" and they give me the first image at the top... I'd complain. Any of the other three, I'll take.




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What is the difference between guacamole and salsa?

Guacamole, smashed avocado, and avocado salsa all include mashed avocado. Smashed avocado is mashed, seasoned avocado, often eaten on toast. Guacamole is a Mexican dip made of avocado mashed with lime juice and cilantro. Avocado salsa is a Mexican sauce made of mashed avocado and green tomatillos.

Is avocado salsa guacamole?

Guacamole and Avocado Salsa IngredientsAvocado salsa and guacamole have many of the same ingredients. The star of the show for both recipes is whole, pitted avocados. They both also contain cilantro and onion for flavor. The difference begins with the tomatillos.

Do you put salsa in guacamole?

Mash a few avocados, stir in some fresh salsa and a squeeze of lemon juice and you've made the easiest healthy guacamole. Guacamole will turn brown if allowed to sit and is best made shortly before serving. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or as a topping for tacos, enchiladas or burritos.



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More answers regarding what's the line between salsa and guacamole?

Answer 2

I think what you are seeing is marketing speak. Many different manufacturers put out similar products but may call them by different names. From what I've seen, guacamole, guacamole dip, and avocado dip are pretty much synonymous. They can all be used as a dip or condiment.

There will be differences, e.g. one may taste slightly different than another or one may be chunky and another smooth, but the manufacturer chooses what name they give it from a marketing standpoint.

Regarding a line between salsa and guacamole, I don't see that there is really a line. What I mean is, adding avocado to a salsa doesn't make it guacamole any more than adding apples to a salad makes it a Waldorf salad.

Answer 3

The traditional guacamole is a salsa made specifically from avocado (the word comes from Nahuatl "ahuacatl" - avocado + "mole" - sauce).

So your Venn diagram would have guacamole inside salsa. Once you start omitting the avocado in your salsa, you've left guacamole-land.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Tom Fisk, ROMAN ODINTSOV, ROMAN ODINTSOV, Tuur Tisseghem