Dips, Salsa and Sauces
Dips can be made with an endless variety of ingredients, and can certainly brighten up any party, holiday or event! Dips can also add amazing flavor, texture and color to all sorts of foods used for dipping, including crudités (bite-size fresh raw vegetables), Baked Crostini or Broiled Crostini, Pita Chips, Tortilla Chips, potato chips, corn chips, naan bread and more. Dips, salsa and sauce recipes are all included on these pages, simply because they all essentially share the same purpose - to add flavor and texture to other foods.
Dip recipes can be all over the map, and can be made creamy, cheesy, thick or somewhat runny. The basic ingredients of dips (before meats, vegetables or other
ingredients are added) can vary greatly, and can include sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, and one or more variety of cheeses, including cheddar, Monterey jack, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, Parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, and the list goes on! When it comes to the filler ingredients that truly define each dip recipe, the sky's the limit! Meat (including chicken, turkey, beef or pork), seafood (such as crab, shrimp or even salmon) and vegetables (such as red or green bell peppers, spinach, artichoke hearts, tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and onions (yellow, purple or green) can add color, flavor and amazing texture to dips. Dips can also be served chilled (referred to as cold dips) or hot after having baked in the oven (referred to as hot dips), both of which are usually still delicious even when cooled to room temperature. Leftover hot dips are also easily reheated in the microwave. Let's also not forget those wonderful dips that contain avocado, chick peas or garbanzo beans (as with hummus) and olives (as with Tapenade). One thing is for certain, when planning for a party, holiday or any event, dips are one of the easiest appetizers to prepare. Once you decide on the best dip recipe to suit your event, all you'll need is some accompanying crackers, plain crostini (baked or broiled), fresh raw vegetables (crudités), or other dippable food, and you're set to go!
Dip recipes can be all over the map, and can be made creamy, cheesy, thick or somewhat runny. The basic ingredients of dips (before meats, vegetables or other
Dip, Salsa and Sauce Recipes ▼
This Sun-Dried Tomato Dip recipe is made with plain yogurt, along with some sour cream and mayonnaise. This tasty dip gets its terrific flavor from a wonderful blend fresh and tasty ingredients, including sun-dried tomatoes that have been soaked in balsamic vinegar, chopped fresh (or dried) basil, minced garlic and diced green olives. Great served with fresh vegetables, crisp veggie straws, crackers, tortilla chips and more!
This homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe is very easy to make, and with a combination of ingredients you likely have in your kitchen, will add that Chinese restaurant flavor to a large variety of dishes. This sweet and sour sauce is great served as a dipping sauce for various Asian foods, such as egg rolls, spring rolls, potstickers and fried wontons. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for chicken fingers and/or meatballs.
This recipe for Tapenade (also sometimes called olive tapenade) combines a mixture of kalamata olives (Greek olives), green olives, garlic, capers and olive oil (fresh thyme and/or anchovies may also be added if desired, though are entirely optional). This tapenade is full of robust and distinctive flavor, and tastes fabulous with baked crostini (shown in photo), pita chips, crackers, thin slices of crusty bread or crudités (fresh raw vegetables).
Teriyaki Sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce that although most popularly used with beef, chicken or pork, can be used in a variety of other ways, such as with shrimp or fish, or as a dipping sauce for egg rolls, chicken nuggets, chicken wings and more. This Teriyaki Sauce is used with the Polynesian Teriyaki Burger recipe, and can also be used with Teriyaki Steak Strips or other grilled meats.
