8 Ways to Instantly Upgrade Your Summer Dips and Spreads
By Matt Duckor, Epicurious
Look, we’ve got nothing against plain hummus, pico de gallo, or freshly made guacamole. They’re classic chip pairings for a reason.
But we’re obsessed with tinkering around with the dip blueprint in the Epicurious Test Kitchen, introducing all sorts of unexpected ingredients and flavors. We’re looking to push the boundaries of what a dip or spread can be. Here are eight of the strategies we find ourselves going back to over and over again.
Related: 11 Cold and Colorful Drinks for Hot Days
A HANDFUL OF GREEN HERBS GOES A LONG WAY
This one’s easy, but shouldn’t be underestimated. Nearly any dip—from tangy yogurt-based ones to creamy hummus-like numbers—can be improved with a smattering of roughly chopped fresh herbs. Practically anything you’ve got on hand will do—we love basil, mint, dill, flat-leaf parsley, and sorrel.
GO CREAMY WITH TAHINI
Sure you could make your dips creamy with, well, cream. But often times we turn to tahini for that. A thick paste made from ground sesame seeds, tahini adds a rich, roasted flavor without any of the usual sweetness one finds in seed and nut butters.
ROAST YOUR GARLIC
Roasted garlic has a nuanced, subtle sweetness that you don’t get with the raw stuff. Plus, it turns into a velvety paste that’s easily incorporated into dips, virtually eliminating the possibly of biting into larger-than-you’d-like pieces of raw garlic.
SWAP OUT YOGURT FOR LABNEH
Greek yogurt’s a great base for dips—it adds fat, flavor, and body. Take things one step further by labneh, the Lebanese strained yogurt. It’s even thicker and adds a punchy, sour note.
UPGRADE THOSE RED PEPPER FLAKES
Not familiar with aleppo pepper? It’s got a slightly-hot, slightly-sweet profile that pairs well with rich, creamy dips and spreads. Use it like you would crushed red pepper flakes—just sprinkle a handful atop whatever you’re serving.
CHAR YOUR VEGETABLES
Tossing thinly-sliced onions, leeks, and scallions with a few glugs of good olive oil and some mayo and sour cream is great and all. But take things to the next level by charring the onions under your oven’s broiler (or on the grill—because summer) for 10-15 minutes. They’ll take on an extra deep layer of flavor and hold up even better against their creamy surroundings.
Related: Our 12 Favorite No-Cook Summer Pastas
ADD A SPICY BITE
If you’re not looking for 5-alarm-level spiciness, consider employing fresh grated horseradish. It lends a sharp bite cuts through any fat or richness of anything you throw at it.
MAKE YOUR OWN SUPERCHARGED FLAVOR BOOSTERS
Garlic and onion powder are tried and true friends of the dip—they’re a great way to instantly add an explosion of flavor to just about anything. Look to take your at-home dips to the next level by making your own powders. While it sounds fussy and complicated, all you need to pull them off is an oven with a pilot light and a bit of time. And it’s so worth it.
More from Epicurious:
15 Foods on Sticks That Are Everything Great About Summer
14 No-Stress Ways to Cook Salmon
20 Must-Try Ways to Pair Items You Already Have In Your Pantry
12 Lightning-Fast Chicken Dinners to Make Now
PHOTO: PEDEN AND MUNK TAYLOR AND JEN
