National Spicy Guacamole Day Date in the current year: November 14, 2024

Guacamole, also informally referred to as guac in the United States, is a Mexican avocado-based dish that is usually served as a dip, spread, or condiment. The word “guacamole” derives from Classical Nahuatl (Aztec) āhuacamōlli, which literally means “avocado sauce”. The g is silent in Mexican Spanish, but English speakers tend to pronounce it.

Guacamole has been known in Mesoamerica for a long time. According to pre-Hispanic mythology, the guacamole recipe was given to people by Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec Feathered Serpent god of the sun, wind, air, and learning. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that guacamole became popular in the United States and the rest of the world.

Guacamole is traditionally made by mashing the flesh of ripe avocados with other ingredients using the mortal and pestle. The original recipe calls for avocados, lime juice, tomatoes, chili, onions, garlic, and cilantro. Traditional Mexican guacamole is already spicy; it is usually served as a hot sauce with tacos, stews, and other dishes.

In the United States, however, guacamole is usually made by mashing ripe avocados with salt and a little lime juice; the juice prevents oxidation and keeps guacamole from turning brown. It is typically served as a dip. Guacamole that contains peppers in addition to the basic ingredients is often referred to as spicy guacamole to distinguish it from regular guacamole.

It is unclear who and when came up with the idea of celebrating a holiday dedicated to spicy guacamole, but the choice of the date for National Spicy Guacamole Day makes sense because November 14 falls in the middle of the regular football season, when both regular and spicy versions of guacamole with tortilla chips are an extremely popular game day snack.

The best day to celebrate National Spicy Guacamole Day is, of course, to indulge yourself with delicious spicy guac. You can go out to your favorite Mexican restaurant or grab a couple of avocados, some jalapeño peppers, and make guacamole yourself. And don’t forget to invite your friends over to share you delicious guacamole and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #NationalSpicyGuacamoleDay.

Here is a spicy guacamole recipe for you to try on November 14. Scoop out the flesh of three ripe avocados into a bowl, mash with a fork, and squeeze juice from 1 ½ limes directly over avocados. Finely chop a medium tomato, ½ white onion, 2 jalapeño peppers and ½ bunch cilantro, add to the bowl. Press 2 garlic cloves into the bowl, add ½ tsp ground cumin, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, and sea salt to taste. Mix all ingredients together and serve your spicy guacamole right away.

National Spicy Guacamole Day is not the only holiday dedicated to guacamole. National Guacamole Day is celebrated annually on September 16, coinciding with Mexican Independence Day.