All-Purpose Dip
Very tasty on its own, this “all-purpose” dip recipe can serve as the foundation for a never-ending list of flavour profiles. All you gotta do is fold in a few delicious Canadian ingredients that sing together.
Here’s my go-to dip recipe with a few ideas for amping up said dip that draws inspiration from the five main regions of Canada. Happy Canada Day, pals!
| Portion size |
|---|
| Yields approximately 3 cups of dip |
Ingredients
- 2 cups sour cream
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup half and half
- 2 Tbsp pickle brine
- 2 tsp Montreal steak spice (or similar-type spice blend)
Directions
- Place all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Cover and place in the fridge until ready to fold in other ingredients. (Some “cross-Canada” ideas below!)
Dip Variations:
West Coast Dip
Ingredients
- ½ cup finely chopped smoked BC salmon
- ½ cup blueberry macerated red onions***
- ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh dill
- Serve with toasted sourdough
For the Blueberry-macerated Red Onions
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup lightly mashed BC blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp salt
Directions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the white wine vinegar, honey, and salt.
- Add BC blueberries and thinly sliced red onions to the bowl and toss thoroughly to ensure they are completely coated. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or so, tossing occasionally.
Prairie Dip
Ingredients
- ½ cup caramelized onions
- ¼ cup finely grated good quality beef jerky
- ¼ cup cooked split red lentils, lightly mashed
- 1 Tbsp grainy mustard
- Serve with kettle-cooked potato chips
Northern Dip
Ingredients
- ½ cup finely chopped cured arctic char, plus more for garnish
- ½ cup lowbush cranberries (lingonberries), plus more for garnish
- 1 Tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp salt
- Serve with fry bread / bannock
Directions
- Combine the highbush cranberries and honey in a small bowl. Give the mixture a light crush with a fork and let sit for 10 minutes or so (the longer the better!) before combining with an all-purpose dip.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and scatter additional Arctic char and highbush cranberries over the top.
Eastern Dip
Ingredients
- ½ cup finely chopped extra-crispy peameal bacon
- ⅓ cup diced roasted bell peppers
- ⅓ cup finely grated Ontario cheddar
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- Serve with toasted slices of Montreal-style bagels
Maritimes Dip
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup finely chopped cooked lobster meat, pressed with paper towel to remove excess moisture
- ⅓ cup finely chopped cooked scallops (or PEI bar clams would work great as well)
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped chives
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped dried Digby dulse
- Serve with hand-torn brioche hot dog buns, toasted into soft large croutons