quick and easy raw veggie dip

[Marlene]

I'm having unexpected company for dinner tonight. One of whom is a vegan.

So I'm putting together a cruditite platter and I need a quick and easy dip recipe involving sour cream if possible.

Help!

[Malawry]

I usually make a "five-onion dip": a 16oz carton of sour cream, a little carton of creme fraiche, and fine brunoise of red onion, sweet vidalia onion, leek, scallion, and chive. Salt the hell out of it and let it sit for a couple hours, check the seasoning and probably salt it again. Very popular, I like to serve it in a hollowed-out red cabbage. I'm serving it at a party tonight actually.

You do realize that vegans don't eat sour cream, right? Hummus is one classic vegan-friendly dip. Or simply really good EVOO with coarse salt and pepper would also be yummy.

[TongoRad]

You do realize that vegans don't eat sour cream, right? Hummus is one classic vegan-friendly dip. Or simply really good EVOO with coarse salt and pepper would also be yummy.

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Hummus is a great idea. Another one I like is just taking roasted peppers, roasted garlic, salt, EVOO and maybe some fresh oregano and blending it all together.

[Alex]

Hummus is good. Or how about a white bean dip? You can flavor it with whatever your imagination says -- for example, onion, garlic, lemon juice, salt, parsley, dill, and mint. Or maybe a nice garlicky skordalia?

[Abra]

No sour cream for vegans! Make this muhammara and leave out the yogurt - it won't make any perceptible difference.

Whirl together in the food processor:

2 large red bell peppers, roasted

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 T hot pepper paste (or finely chopped chili, or 1/4 tsp cayenne)

3/4 C toasted breadcrumbs

3/4 C walnuts, toasted and ground

3 T lemon juice

2 tsp pomegranate molasses

1 T yogurt

1 tsp ground cumin seed (1 to 2)

salt to taste

1/4 C olive oil

[rjwong]

I'm going through my copy of Deborah Madison's book, Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Here are some ideas:

Tapenade or olive paste: with capers, garlic, thyme, EVOO, ground pepper, lemon juice.

Roasted red pepper spread: with garlic, EVOO, red wine vinegar, ground pepper. Puree.

Hummus: YEAH!!

Salsa: tomatoes, garlic, onion, serrano or jalapeno chiles, cider vinegar

FYI Vegans do not eat any meat or animal by-products. That includes dairy products (milk, cheese, sour cream, eggs), even honey (bee by-product). Coconut milk is okay.

[Marlene]

Oh boy is she coming to the wrong house. Hummus and roasted red pepper dip it is.

Thanks!

[mizducky]

You can often get away with substituting soft silken tofu for dairy products in recipes for dips, dressings, etc. Just mash the stuff with a fork, or give it a couple of pulses in blender or food processor, and proceed with your recipe.

[Pam R]

there's always soy sour cream... use it in place of reg. sour cream and just mix in some flavourful components.

and the soy cream cheese is pretty good too

Edited October 29, 2005 by Pam R (log)

[rjwong]

Oh boy is she coming to the wrong house.   Hummus and roasted red pepper dip it is.

Thanks!

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Well, Marlene, how did the dips turn out? Are you ready to become a vegan, full-throttle?

[Shalmanese]

Probably too late now but I made an excellent, impromtu white bean & mint puree by simmering some white beans until soft and then pureeing and adding salt, pepper, a hint of garlic, some mint and some bean water to thin it out.

[Marlene]

Oh boy is she coming to the wrong house.   Hummus and roasted red pepper dip it is.

Thanks!

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Well, Marlene, how did the dips turn out? Are you ready to become a vegan, full-throttle?

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Oh yeah, I'll be turning vegan. The dips turned out just fine, although in the end my husband got it wrong. Turns out she's a vegetarian, not a vegan, so dairy was fine.

[k43]

My mother's super easy mix, better than the ingredient list looks:

8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature if you're using a blender

1 pint sour cream

1 teaspoon Lawrey's or other seasoned salt

2 whole anchovies, or more to taste

8-10 snipped chives

Whirl together the cream cheese, sour cream, seasoned salt ande anchovies in a blender or food processor. Mix in the chives with a wooden spoon. Make a couple of hours ahead and refrigerate.

Edited October 31, 2005 by k43 (log)