Caramelized French Onion Dip
Forget those packets of dried onion and make this Caramelized French Onion Dip; it’s a bit more work sure, but I promise you will not regret it!
It’s Progressive Eats time and we’ve run smack dab into Thanksgiving…so how about something different? As in an all vegetarian feast? Our host for this month is the lovely Susan with The Wimpy Vegetarian blog; wimpy as in will occasionally partake of that nemesis of vegetarians everywhere…oops, MEAT! But not this time; she has not only not wimped out, she has asked us to come along with her for the all veggie ride.
I have to admit it was easy; as I lean towards eating more vegetables and less meats mostly because I simply love them and find that my meat eating days are outnumbered by more days without it. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not the wimpy meat eater…I just don’t have to have meat every single day.
Within the list of foods amassed for your viewing pleasure (sounds like a commercial doesn’t it?) are some outstanding choices from my very talented group of friends and I’m thinking I’ll have to try several of these dishes soon. I’ve already made my Thanksgiving Feast of old; it will be fun to try something that goes in such a different direction.
That being said, I didn’t try to take a typical meat dish and substitute products to make it vegetarian. Nope…this was easy. Remember that old fashioned dip made with just sour cream and a packet of dry onion soup mix; the height of fine cuisine a few decades ago?
I’ve made a homemade version of this dip for several years but never wrote down the ingredients…lucky for you I did that this past week and the words that have been going through my head ever since this exercise? “Step away from the dried onion soup” and make this instead!
What I love about this appetizer is that it’s really not Thanksgiving specific…great for football games, bridal showers, actually any event where you want to serve finger type foods for noshing; like my lunch event at my desk today. 🙂
Long slow cooking of onions resulting in that sweet, caramelized flavor is mixed with a combination of sour cream, cream cheese and mayonnaise along with some seasonings and voila…a mixture that makes that dry mix seem as pathetic as it is. “So why not go all the way and make chips too?” I asked myself.
Not because I had nothing better to do but because a quick peek in the pantry found no bag of chips to be found but a brand new bag of red potatoes. To be honest? These are a bit of work for the end result. More honesty? So worth it! Maybe not for a big crowd as they do require some babysitting; the super thin slices of potato start to darken at different times requiring constant vigilance. An appetizer for 4? Absolutely. Twenty? Make the dip and buy the Lays is what I says!
Be sure to check out all the vegetarian deliciousness from my friends!
A Vegetarian Thanksgiving
Starters
- Caramelized French Onion Dip with Homemade Potato Chips from Creative Culinary (You’re Here!)
Main Dish
- Spiced Acorn Squash with Charred Poblano-Chickpea-Cornbread Stuffing from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Moroccan Pilaf and Vegetable Stuffed Squash from The Heritage Cook
Side Dishes
- Mushroom Leek Cornbread Stuffing from Mother Would Know
- Celery Root Mash from Stetted
- Stovetop Green Bean Casserole from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
- Carrot Puff from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Broccoli Casserole from Never Enough Thyme
- Potato Gratin from Miss in the Kitchen
Sweet Endings
- Maple Pumpkin Bread Pudding from Whole Food Real Families
- Caramel Pumpkin Mousse with Cocoa Nib Streusel from Pastry Chef Online
Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month’s theme is all about A Vegetarian Thanksgiving and is hosted by Susan Pridmore who blogs at The Wimpy Vegetarian. This may be heresy to many who yearn for the traditional dinner, but this menu will either motivate you to nix the turkey this year, or at least provide inspiration for a new fabulous appetizer and side dishes. And we didn’t forget dessert for some sweet (gorgeous) endings to your meal.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.
PIN ‘Caramelized French Onion Dip’
Caramelized French Onion Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 3 large Vidalia onions quartered and thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme minced
- 2 cups sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce Worcestershire Sauce has anchovies; omit for an all vegetarian dip
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- One bunch of fresh chives
For the Red Potato Baked Chips:
- 2 medium sized red potatoes
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Fresh thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium until butter is melted.
- Add onions and saute, stirring often until golden brown and caramelized, about 30-35 minutes. Add garlic and thyme when onions are browned and cook for an additional minute.
- Cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, combine sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Worcestershire Sauce (if using), salt and pepper.
- Fold onion mixture into the sour cream/cream cheese/mayonnaise mixture. Fold in chopped chives.
- Garnish with chopped thyme and chill at least 1 hour or overnight.
- To Make the Potato Chips
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice potatoes very thin with a food processor (I used a Cuisinart #1; the thinnest slice available)..
- Brush a baking sheet lightly with olive oil and lay the potato slices out in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until potatoes have browned and are crisp. (I checked frequently; smaller rounds browned quicker).
- Use a spatula to transfer to a paper towel to cool.
- Serve the chips with the dip!
This is the type of dip that I find dangerous to be around. I could eat the whole bowl in one sitting.
Barb, I must confess that I have always loved the dried mix onion dip. I always go for it first in the appetizer line up. But, boy oh boy, I can see that this is going to quickly take its place! And the home-baked chips must be just perfect with it.
This might sway you big time. I wanted to eat it with a spoon!
Oh Barb, you had better be glad that we live so far apart. If we were neighbors I would sneak into your house and steal the entire bowl of this dip and hoard it all for myself! Especially with homemade chips – that would totally put these over the moon for me. Now I have to pull all the ingredients together and definitely make this just for myself. Nope, I will not share this at all, LOL! 😉
I could use the help…it makes a lot Jane!
Wow, looks amazing and how fun to have a homemade version of such a universal favorite!
It is so good Chris; luckily I really did have friends dropping by because I fear I could have eaten the whole batch myself!
I’d be glad to make this dip for Thanksgiving, as long as I could put half of it away to eat by myself, curled up in front of a good movie on Friday night. And the chips – well, I could demolish an entire basket of them, no problem.
You got my number. 🙂
I’m just gonna take that dip and run away…
Or run away first and come here and I’ll share it with you? 🙂
Nice update on the classic onion dip! I’ve never made potato chips — either baked or fried. Really need to get with it! This is great — thanks.
I’m not a fan of the traditional just add the dry mix to sour cream, so I love that you’ve made a more natural version of it. Looks great!
My favorite part of that recipe? “Makes four cups!!” I really like this sophisticated spin on a 1960s and 70s classic. This is a prime candidate for a binge watching snack, too! Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving, Barb.
Who needs dinner? I’d be happy parked by a big bowl of your homemade chips and dip!!!