dip/spread for veggies

[breathless]

I'm cutting up raw veggies to take to work with me and am looking for a good raw dip to eat them with. Any suggestions?

[DebB]

I'm cutting up raw veggies to take to work with me and am looking for a good raw dip to eat them with. Any suggestions?

Here's my hands down fa-vo-rite dip / dressing. I got it here :) It's been tweaked from the original, but the URL will be at the end to see the original posting (Snowdrop):

Snowdrop's ranch dressing/dip with Deb’s tweaks

Ingredients

Soak:
1 1/2 c nuts (cashew or mac or combo) soak them for a creamier dressing (1-2 hr is fine, then drain) and
10 deglet noor -or- FOUR medjool dates (reserve soak water to thin dressing if needed). Blend these well in blender and then add:

1 1/2 c filtered water for blending (can use date soak water too)
3 T lemon juice (translates into approx 1/2 lemon)
2 T cider vinegar
2 T olive oil
3 T agave (omit agave if using dates to sweeten )
2 cloves garlic
1 t garlic pwd
3 t onion pwd
1 t dill
2 t sea salt
1/2 t dried basil

Blend until smooth. After done blending, add:

1/3-1/2 bunch of organic fresh chopped dill, can use stems

Give the addition of fresh dill a few quick pulses or quick blends. You just want to break it down a bit and blend it in. Don't blend too long or you'll turn the dip/dressing green.

makes 3.5 - 4 cups (depends how much water you use)

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=36267&highlight=ranch+dressing

[ShantiDass]

Deb,

That sounds delicious and I want to make it this week but I'm a little confused on your directions. Is the basil dry and you don't add it in until the end and then just stir it in with the dill?

[DebB]

Deb,

That sounds delicious and I want to make it this week but I'm a little confused on your directions. Is the basil dry and you don't add it in until the end and then just stir it in with the dill?

Hi ShantiDass ~ Those instructions could use a re-write! Yes, the basil is dried and you add it along with all the other spices.

The only thing you add .after. the blend is the fresh dill. You don't want to add it initially or else it completely blends and turns the dressing/dip green. Just give it a little blend and it'll be fine (fresh dill that is). Please note that the addition of that much fresh dill is my tweak. The initial recipe called for fresh parsley, but I love the fresh dill in there :)

[ShantiDass]

Thanks! I love dill, also. I thought that's what you meant, but didn't want to make it without asking.

[Mary Kay]

I'm a dill-monger too! I think you may have given this recipe before DebB, and sadly I have never tried it. I simply MUST!!! Thank you! Mary Kay

[Mary Kay]

Every time I make cheezy kale chips, I always end up eating the kale with the sauce on it before it's dehydrated. So, I'm thinking that would be a good dip.

I have no idea who the original inventor of Cheezy Kale Chips is....that genius!
Here's my version:

1 c cashews (I think you could sub/combine young coconut meat if you don't want nuts)
2 small red peppers or 1 large one OR two medium tomatoes OR a combo (I generally do a combo)
2 TBSP nutritional yeast
2 Medjool dates
3/4 of a small lemon - Just peel off the skin, but leave on the white pith, cut into quarters
1 tsp sea salt
________________This is the cheezy kale chip recipe
Then you can add a splash of apple cider vinegar to make it more dressing-like. (optional)

Blend everything in a high-speed blender.

BTW, whenever a recipe calls for adding lemon juice, if it's in a high-speed blender, I don't add the juice, but add the peeled lemon, complete with the pith (white part) for more nutrients.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[DebB]

Thanks! I love dill, also. I thought that's what you meant, but didn't want to make it without asking.

I hope you enjoy as much as I do. Please know that this is on the sweet side as I use the dates plus their soak water. It's too sweet for my husband's taste - so know that you can adjust the sweetness if you'd like. :)

[walnutty]

DebB, does your version of Snowdrop's ranch dressing taste more like Hidden Valley Ranch?

The reason I ask is because I tried Snowdrop's years ago and I don't think it tastes anything like Hidden Valley Ranch dressing and is also very, very sweet. I didn't like it at all. So much so that I couldn't even force myself to eat it and it ended up down the drain.

I would love a dressing that tastes truly like Hidden Valley Ranch!

[ShantiDass]

DebB - I like sweet so I'll give it a try.

walnutty - I've had the same problem with a bunch of recipes. People say they taste just like ___________ and it doesn't and it's so disappointing. I've tried a few different ranch dressing recipes that are supposed to taste just like ranch and it's not true. I just taste the nuts. I'm going to try this one in the next few days but am also thinking of it as just a salad dressing recipe and trying to not compare it to anything else.

[DebB]

DebB - I like sweet so I'll give it a try.

walnutty - I've had the same problem with a bunch of recipes. People say they taste just like ___________ and it doesn't and it's so disappointing. I've tried a few different ranch dressing recipes that are supposed to taste just like ranch and it's not true. I just taste the nuts. I'm going to try this one in the next few days but am also thinking of it as just a salad dressing recipe and trying to not compare it to anything else.

For what it's worth -- I made this recipe last week while we were visiting family. The only fresh dill I could find was pretty old & tasteless. I made up the recipe but (to be honest) there wasn't anything I could do to save it - I had to toss it. So now I am doubly grateful for the beautiful fresh dill our local grocery store carries!

You might like to start out with half a recipe (or less) to see if it suits you. *Ü*

[MysticTree]

DebB - I like sweet so I'll give it a try.

walnutty - I've had the same problem with a bunch of recipes. People say they taste just like ___________ and it doesn't and it's so disappointing. I've tried a few different ranch dressing recipes that are supposed to taste just like ranch and it's not true. I just taste the nuts. I'm going to try this one in the next few days but am also thinking of it as just a salad dressing recipe and trying to not compare it to anything else.

I agree that most recipes that are raw rarely taste like their non-raw counterparts and I often wonder what the reasoning is behind saying they do. Often they taste very nice and I'd still make these recipes but I call them something else. It also brings up the old topic of why call something after a non-raw food when you are trying to move away from cooked and processed foods.

Zucchinni ribbons do not taste like pasta and their texture isn't that of pasta either. Taste very nice and with a tomato and marinated mushroom topping they taste even better but to call them after a cooked dish seems to be an insult to raw food.

[Traceyraw]

I use almond butter mixed with agave or honey. It is so yummy.

[Mary Kay]

DebB, what about dried dill?

Mary Kay

[ShantiDass]

DebB,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I made the recipe this weekend and it is DELICIOUS! I can't wait to have my salad at lunch today. I was using it as a dip with veggies last night and wanted to drink it. The only thing I will probably change is not add as much water at first. I added the 1.5c and it's a little thin. (I haven't looked at it this morning to see how much it thickened up so maybe I won't need to use less.)

I have no idea how long I'll stay raw or what %, etc. but now I know I can continue on because I found something else I like to eat. I also want to try making kale chips with it and see what happens.

YUMMY!!!!

[DebB]

DebB,

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I made the recipe this weekend and it is DELICIOUS! I can't wait to have my salad at lunch today. I was using it as a dip with veggies last night and wanted to drink it. The only thing I will probably change is not add as much water at first. I added the 1.5c and it's a little thin. (I haven't looked at it this morning to see how much it thickened up so maybe I won't need to use less.)

I have no idea how long I'll stay raw or what %, etc. but now I know I can continue on because I found something else I like to eat. I also want to try making kale chips with it and see what happens.

YUMMY!!!!

Yay!!! I'm so glad that this dip/dressing fits the bill for you! (I was getting nervous!) ;)

This is my go-to recipe for dip & dressing. When we go out to a salad bar, I make this up and take it along. I usually take along an avocado too that I've cut in half, removed the pit and scored. I put it back together, slip it in a ziploc and then at the restaurant, I scoop it out onto my salad. I'm all set and no deprivation here!

Yes - it took some playing around with the water amount for me as well. Thicker if I want a dip, thinner for a dressing.

So glad it worked - it's always great to have another good recipe to add to the mix :) Thanks for posting back!

[ShantiDass]

I can't wait to play around the amount of liquid and see what it's like a little thicker since it's so good now while it's a little thinner. My mom is vegan and about 70% raw and we were afraid we'd eat it all last night after I made it.

Thanks for the salad bar idea. I will use it. There are several raw restaurants locally (along with cooked vegan restaurants) but not all SAD eaters want to join me and I rarely go to restaurants that serve meat. But, I can now manage a salad bar type place since I can bring my own dressing.

YAY! I'm so excited. You just don't know. I came into work this morning and announced it to all my co-workers who have been dealing me complaining about how I couldn't find a dressing. :throwhearts: I've seen a few more recipes on this site that sound like I might like them and I will give them a try soon and hope to have another one or two for some variety. (but if I don't find any I like, I'm sure I will be happy with just this one!)

Thanks again! I truly appreciate your help.

[DebB]

You are so welcome! It makes all the difference to have some good tasting salad dressings, at least for me. If I don't have a good tasting dressing - well to be honest, I pass on the salad!