Here are some facts:
1) We are in full swing of holiday season.
2) Holiday parties and gatherings litter our calendars for the next month.
3) No party is complete without lots of dips!
4) Generally speaking, dip = dairy, typically sour cream and/or cream cheese.
5) NextGeners, as well as vegans and those lactose intolerant, avoid dairy.
6) You need some dairy-free dip recipes!
This week’s blog features tofu, yes tofu, as the base of dip recipes to help you and your friends and family feast friendly in December. Let me preface by saying I’d never really eaten tofu before, and even after a couple years at NGPT, I hadn’t investigated tofu recipes too seriously. However, I had a handful of dessert recipes with tofu and bought a lot so I started looking for other tofu recipes and found the following. The first was my favorite.
Yummy Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Yummy-Vegan-Spinach-Artichoke-Dip-Recipezaar?columns=4&position=9%2F26
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 12 oz package frozen chopped spinach (thawed, drained and squeezed dry)
- 8 oz canned artichoke hearts, rinsed and drained well
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 12 oz package firm silken tofu
- ½ cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 -3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 350°F. Sauté onion, spinach and artichoke hearts in olive oil until onion is soft, ~6 min. Blend together everything else until mixed and smooth. Combine all ingredients. Taste and add extra seasonings and nutritional yeast, as needed. Smooth into non-stick baking dish and bake for 15-20 min, or until lightly browned on top. Serve warm with bread or tortilla chips.
Spinach Tofu Dip http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/spinach-tofu-dip-recipe/index.html
- 2 scallions, coarsely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ¼ lb silken tofu
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- Splash sesame oil (optional)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Combine all in blender and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl and serve with raw vegetables.
Dill & Onion Chip Dip http://www.food.com/recipe/dill-onion-chip-dip-251041
- 12 oz box firm silken tofu
- 1 Tbsp oil
- 1-2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast (or to taste)
- 2 tsp dried dill
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp mustard powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Blend all ingredients in a food processor till smooth. (Add 1-2 tbsp water, if it’s too thick). Taste, add more seasoning if you like. Cover and refrigerate 30-60+ min. Stir before serving.
Now you ask, “I know nothing about tofu - Where do I get the tofu for these recipes?” I used http://www.morinu.com/shop/product_detail.aspx?id=2 and purchased it via one of my favorite shopping sites www.vitacost.com. Get creative – these aren’t just dips. Try them as toppers or sauces over chicken! This year, bring something healthy to the table so everyone can feast with dip, feast with creamy, and as always…FEAST ON!!!
~Coach Lauren
