- 12 small (2- to 2 1/2-inch) tomatoes (not plum tomatoes)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 3 firm-ripe California avocados
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeño chile, including seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Accompaniment: shredded iceberg lettuce
- Garnish: fresh cilantro sprigs
- Cut a thin slice from stem end of each tomato and scoop out and discard seeds with a small spoon. Carefully scoop out pulp to form a tomato shell, then finely chop pulp.
- Drizzle inside of each tomato shell with oil and lime juice and let stand at room temperature while making guacamole.
- Pit and peel avocados and coarsely mash with a fork in a bowl. Fold in chopped tomato pulp, onion, cilantro, chile, and salt, then spoon into tomato shells, mounding guacamole. Serve immediately.