Easy, Creamy Avocado Salsa (Salsa de Aguacate)

Easy, creamy avocado salsa (salsa de aguacate) is silky smooth, with a bit of a kick from the jalapeño pepper. This homemade salsa recipe is so delicious, plus, it comes together in about 5 minutes! All you have to do is add the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. It can’t get much easier than that!

I just love avocados! Not only are they delicious and versatile, but they are also healthy! I have a little one that eats avocados on everything when we have ripe ones in the house. In fact, I had a hard time testing this recipe, since my avocados kept disappearing during the process!

While I have nothing against avocado’s signature dish, guacamole, this salsa provides a beautifully smooth sauce, perfect for topping golden taquitos or grilled meats. So, if you are looking for something a bit lighter but still with the creamy taste of avocados, this avocado salsa recipe is it! 

What’s in easy, creamy avocado salsa?

While I was researching this recipe, I found avocado salsa recipes ranging from smooth and creamy, to chunky mash-ups featuring diced avocados, tomato, and red onion (almost like pico de gallo with avocado). So, I asked two of my favorite Mexican home cooks for their opinion.

I posed the question…how do you make salsa de aguacate (avocado salsa)? The answer was a straightforward list of ingredients that included only 5 elements (plus water). 

• Ripe avocados: I use the Hass variety
• Lime juice: I like to squeeze my lime juice fresh
• Jalapeño pepper
• Garlic
• Salt
• Water: Use only if necessary to thin the sauce and help the blender mix everything thoroughly

You’ll notice that this recipe doesn’t include any fresh tomatillos or onions, ingredients found in most green salsas or salsa verde recipes. I am working on a tomatillo avocado salsa recipe as a variation to this one, which will be coming to you soon! 

Substitutions and variations

Avocados

The key to giving this salsa the best flavor is choosing perfectly ripe and flavorful avocados. I love the Hass variety because they are super tasty and have smooth, creamy flesh. And according to Avocados from Mexico, since 80% of the world’s avocados are Hass, this is the kind that you are likely picking up at your local grocery store. 

If you come across a different type of avocado, it can be substituted here without any problems. Just note that different varieties do vary a bit in taste. And they can vary in size. So if you are working with a smaller variety, you may need more to achieve the same yield that is mentioned in the recipe card.  

Lime juice

I usually have fresh limes on hand and prefer to squeeze my own lime juice, rather than buy the bottled variety. But if fresh limes aren’t available, you can substitute bottled lime juice for fresh. 

Chile pepper

I like the flavor of the jalapeño pepper in this salsa and it gives this salsa a bit of a kick.  But if you are heat sensitive, you can use half a jalapeño pepper or remove it completely. If you like things on the spicier side, you could substitute the jalapeño with serrano chiles or increase the number of jalapeños you use!

Garlic

I like to use fresh garlic here. I haven’t tried this recipe using garlic powder.

Other herbs

If desired, you could add in fresh cilantro to give this salsa a bit of an herby flavor. 

How to make easy, creamy avocado salsa step-by-step

This salsa is so easy to make! You are only 5 minutes away from smooth, creamy deliciousness! For the full instructions, please see the recipe card. 

Juice limes and cut up ingredients

Start by adding lime juice to your blender. Cut the jalapeños into chunks and add to the blender along with the garlic clove. Cut up the avocado flesh into small pieces and add to the blender. Add salt to taste. 

Blend the ingredients

Blend the salsa until you reach a smooth consistency and there are no chunks of any ingredients remaining. If needed, add water to the blender slowly to help the blender thoroughly mix all of the ingredients. Check the salsa for salt and adjust if necessary. 

Serve

Serve this salsa with your favorite Mexican meals! We love this creamy avocado salsa on crunchy tacos dorados, or on grilled steak, chicken, or salmon. Use it to top tostadas or as a creamy dip for corn tortilla chips. Wrap it into your favorite burrito or quesadilla! I think this refreshing salsa would be amazing on fish tacos. Sometimes I even eat it over my scrambled eggs and tortilla! 

Tips for making creamy avocado salsa

Use water to help blend ingredients

The avocados can make this salsa pretty thick, so I like to use a bit of water to thin it out and make it more saucy and smooth.  I also find that the water helps the blender move things along, ensuring that I am not left with any large chunks of chiles or garlic in the final sauce. Add water slowly, just until the salsa reaches the consistency that is right for you! I like mine to be smooth, not chunky, with a consistency similar to sour cream.

Cut the ingredients up small enough for your blender

My blender isn’t super powerful and sometimes the blades can get a bit stuck on large chunky ingredients. I find it easier for my blender to process this completely smooth if I start with ingredients cut up on the smaller side. You could also use a food processor to make this salsa if you prefer.

FAQs

How do I cut and peel an avocado?

If you are working with avocados for the first time, then this question might come to mind. Simply cut the avocado lengthwise around the pit and pull the halves apart (see the photos below). Then, tap the sharp blade of your knife into the pit, rotate it back and forth gently, until the pit loosens. Pull the pit from the avocado and remove it from your blade.

Scoop the avocado flesh onto a cutting board with a spoon, or peel the outer skin away and discard. The avocado flesh is now ready to be cut into chunks or slices depending on how you wish to use it!

Is avocado salsa healthy?

Avocados have tons of health benefits, so you can feel good about adding this salsa to your menu!

According to Avocados from Mexico, avocados are a source of good fat, and fiber, and contain nearly 20 vitamins and minerals like: 

• Vitamin B: helps convert food into energy 
• Vitamin K: helps blood clot and keeps bones healthy
• Vitamin A: supports healthy vision
• Vitamin C: protects cells and keeps them healthy
• Magnesium: regulates muscle and nerve function
• Folate: supports brain and nerve function, digestion, and DNA creation and repair
• Copper: used to make connective tissue, blood vessels, and energy

And besides all of the above benefits, this salsa is naturally gluten-free and vegan. 

Is avocado salsa the same as guacamole?

No. Sometimes salsa made with avocados is called guacamole salsa, but there are key differences between avocado salsa and guacamole! Guacamole has a thicker consistency since the ingredients are mashed together, while avocado salsa is going to have a smoother, more liquid consistency since the salsa is blended. Ingredients can overlap between guacamole and creamy avocado salsa, but the difference is in how the two are made and the consistency. You can find my guacamole recipe here!

Is avocado salsa spicy?

This salsa isn’t overly spicy, but it does have a bit of a kick. If you are sensitive to spice, then start by adding only half a jalapeño pepper, removing the jalapeño seeds and veins, or leaving it out entirely. If you want to up the heat level, use more peppers or substitute the jalapeño pepper for spicier serrano peppers. 

How long does avocado salsa last?

I think creamy avocado salsa is best eaten fresh, within a couple hours of making it. However, we have had success keeping leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days without it turning brown. The lime juice in the salsa helps to slow the oxidation process, which is what causes cut avocados to turn an unappetizing brown color after being exposed to air over time. 

How do I know when an avocado is ripe?

Ripe avocados give slightly when squeezed. If the avocado is rock hard, it is not ripe. If it is mushy, then it is past its prime. 

Hass avocados also darken when they are ripe. They go from a green color to a dark green, almost black color.

If you can only find underripe avocados at your local grocery store, I know the struggle. Try buying these a couple of days in advance of when you need them. They will ripen when left out on your counter for a couple of days. Or to speed up the ripening process, you can place them in a brown paper bag or wrap them with newspaper.

What’s the best way to store ripe avocados?

Ripe avocados will keep for several days in the fridge. 

What can I use avocado salsa for?

The sky’s the limit! This salsa is delicious on all sorts of Mexican food like tacos dorados or taquitos. It pairs well with grilled steak, chicken, or salmon. It would be delicious on quesadillas, tostadas, tacos, or burritos. If you are on a low-carb diet, why not use this salsa in your burrito bowls or as a salad dressing for taco salad? This is the perfect dip for fresh veggies or corn tortilla chips. The bottom line is that this salsa is versatile, so use it on whatever you want!

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Source: Rebeca Díaz and Lorenza Lafragua, Morelos, Mexico

(The below nutrition label is included as a courtesy. Our terms and conditions explain our nutrition policy.)