This healthy-ish snack is a lighter take on a classic French onion dip. Lose the sour cream for low-fat plain greek yogurt and you’re on your way to a game day snack that will satisfy your craving for a little nosh, without the extra calories.
As you may have noticed, I kind of have a thing for cocktails. I’ve been taking a break from serving up cocktails on the blog thus far this month, to balance out from the overindulgence of the Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar and because a whopping 86% of you said you wanted to see healthy-ish recipes on Taste & Tipple this January.
But, just because I haven’t served any on the blog over the last few weeks, they are still in heavy rotation whenever I’m hosting at home. To prevent my guests from getting too sauced, too quickly, I like to serve up a little something for them to snack on.
The variety of snack depends entirely on how well prepared I am and how much time I have on my hands. Luckily, this dip comes together quite quickly, even if you choose to make your own crostini.
If you have 12 minutes and access to a fresh baguette, make your own crostini – it’s way cheaper than buying those gourmet crackers from the grocery store and you can flavour them to your own taste.
The only pitfall of entertaining as often as I do is the near constant necessity to clean. I hate cleaning. I’m really at my best when I’m in a relationship where there’s a strict, “I cook, you clean” arrangement – and when I say “clean” I don’t just mean the dishes. I should update my online dating profile to read, “seeking my Cinderella – signed, your future evil stepsister.”
Unless I’m hosting a dinner party, I typically entertain in my living room, I have plenty of seating and will array my snacks on the coffee table. I always provide side plates and napkins, but my loved ones so rarely opt to use the utensils I put at their disposal.
As a result, crumbs, jellies, dips, cheese and other edible accoutrements often end up on my rug. I’m not that attached to my rug, it wasn’t handwoven in Turkey, it’s just from Ikea – pretty much the only thing I own from Ikea. So, while I could care less for my rug, I’m really more miffed about the physical labour of having to vacuum so damn often.
There’s a distinct possibility that my rug is the best-fed thing in my whole house. If you choose to make this, insist on side plates, the crostini are delicious, and crumbly.
Caramelized Shallot Dip with Simple Crostini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 large shallots finely chopped (about 2 cups)
- Kosher salt freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1½ cups low-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon sliced chives plus more for serving
- Simple crostini chips or crackers (for serving)
- 1 baguette sliced 1/4″ thick
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
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Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add shallots and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and reducing heat if needed, until shallots are golden brown and tender, 15–18 minutes. Let cool slightly.
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Mix shallots and vinegar into yogurt in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.
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Stir 1 Tbsp. chives into yogurt; divide among bowls and top with more chives. Serve with chips for dipping.
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Do Ahead: Dip (without chives) can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange baguette slices on two large rimmed baking sheets; brush both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
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Bake for 6 minutes. Remove from oven, flip and continue baking for another 6 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on baking sheets.
Caramelized Shallot Dip recipe adapted from: Morocco, Chris “Caramelized Shallot Dip.” Bon Appetit. January 2016.
