Home Food & Beverage 12 Easy Dips for Christmas

12 Easy Dips for Christmas

Festive appetize dips

12 Easy Dips for Christmas

T’is the season to eat, share and be merry. An integral part of Christmas festivities is the food. The smell of spices wafting in the air brings with it the assurance that Christmas is, in fact, here. If you are rushed for time and can’t whip up  a Christmas feast, you could always impress family and friends with some great appetizers and dips.

Here are 12 easy dips that will have your family and friends talking about it even as they bring in the New Year!

1.Bacon, Cream Cheese and Caramelized Onions

  • Fry bacon in a pan till the fat has rendered and the bacon has turned brown.
  • Using the oil from the bacon in the same pan, add finely sliced onions and fry till they are golden brown. This will take a while so keep sautéing the onions to keep them from burning and sticking to the pan.
  • In the meantime, add the cream cheese at, room temperature to a bowl, and with a spoon, flatten it in the bowl.
  • Top the cream cheese with the hot onions and then the bacon.
  • Top the dip with roasted walnuts, chopped, and some parsley.
  • Serve with whole wheat crackers or toasted pita bread.

2.Goats Cheese, Caramelized Onions and Balsamic Glaze

  • In a bowl, flatten the goats cheese at the bottom.
  • Add the caramelized onions on top of the cheese.
  • Reduce the balsamic vinegar in a sauce pan till you are left with a sticky glaze.
  • Immediately add the glaze to the top of the dip.
  • Serve with whole wheat crackers or toasted pita bread.

3.Sundried Tomatoes, Pesto and Pine Nuts Cheese Dip

  • In a food processor, add feta and cream cheese, garlic and pepper. Process till the mixture is smooth.
  • Line the bowl you are using with cling film to be able to easily take the dip out in a dome shape on a plate.
  • Layer the dip in the mold, starting with sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, homemade or store-bought pesto and then the cheese mixture. Repeat as many times as you can.
  • Press the dip down and refrigerate for at least an hour.
  • Serve with crackers.

4.Pineapple and Cream Cheese Dip with Walnuts.

  • Mix cream cheese with crushed canned pineapple. (Drain the water and do not allow any liquid to mix with the dip).
  • Place in a bowl already lined with cling film and place in the fridge till set.
  • Add chopped, roasted walnuts on a plate and roll the dome-shaped cream mixture on the plate until fully covered by the nuts. You can also use salted peanuts instead of the walnuts.
  • Decorate with parsley.
  • Serve with crackers.

 5.Pumpkin Hummus

  • In a processor add boiled and drained chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, tahini paste, lime juice and salt. Taste for the seasoning and add condiments as you see fit.
  • Add roasted pumpkin and cumin and process till smooth.
  • Transfer hummus to a bowl and refrigerate.
  • Top with roasted pumpkin seed and paprika or chili powder.
  • Serve with crackers or pita bread.

6.Winter Guacamole

  • Fold diced avocado and lime juice in a bowl with a mixture of onion, chilies and salt.
  • Combine crushed garlic and cream cheese and place at the bottom of a serving bowl.
  • Top with the guacamole and serve with tortilla chips.

 7.Avocado-Wasabi Dip

  • In a blender, add 1 chopped avocado, chopped jalapeno, lime juice to taste, wasabi paste to taste, ½ tsp of soy sauce, coriander and salt. Blend till smooth.
  • If you like a chunky dip, do not blend till smooth.
  • Eat this with crudités or tuna patties.

 8.Kidney Bean Salsa

  • To boiled kidney beans add onions, fresh coriander, tomatoes, jalapenos (to taste) and lime.
  • Add salt, pepper and paprika.
  • Top the salsa with sour cream before serving with nachos or tortilla chips.

9.Baked Kidney Bean Salsa

  • Grate some cheese onto of the salsa and bake it in an oven till the cheese has melted.
  • Serve hot.

10.Spiced Hot Chocolate Dip

  • Melt dark chocolate in a bain-marie or in a microwave. In another pan, heat full-fat cream with cinnamon, grated nutmeg, cloves and a dash of pepper. (Be careful when adding spices and use a pinch of each at a time so you don’t go overboard).
  • In a steady stream, add the melted chocolate to the warm cream and simmer till the mixture is thick enough to coat a spoon.
  • Serve hot with marshmallows and shortbread biscuits.

11.Apple Pie Dip

  • Roast walnuts in an oven until crisp and then cool them. In a pan, combine peeled and chopped apple, cinnamon, butter, a pinch of salt and caster sugar.
  • Cook till apples are soft but still have texture. Top the mix with the toasted walnuts.
  • Serve with shortbread fingers.

12.Tiramisu Dip

  • Combine mascarpone and ricotta cheese. To this, add caster sugar and cooled, brewed espresso coffee, a splash of Kahlua or Marsala.
  • Beat the entire mixture for 3 minutes or till stiff peaks form.
  • Transfer to a shallow glass dish and top with grated chocolate and sifted cocoa.
  • Serve with tea biscuits or savoiardi biscuits.