Sunday, April 1, 2001

Make mine a double



by Vesna Vuynovich Kovach
In Madison Magazine, April 2001
Column: Tidbits
Photo: USDA image in the public domain, via Wikipedia

Related: Green gunk is an American bestseller on Vesna's Fun World

Guacamole, that spicy green dip, gets its name from the Mexican-Spanish mole, meaning a sauce or mixture, plus ahuacatl, the Aztec word for “testicle” as well as for “avocado.”

This synonym doubtless arose from observation of the fruit’s shape and wrinkly skin.

If the size seems off, consider that in the 15th and 16th centuries, Aztec warriors conquered surrounding lands to build the largest empire in the history of the North American continent.

For best results making tasty guacamole, use a very ripe avocado.