Description
Ina Garten’s french onion dip delivers creamy, caramelized goodness with sharp cheddar and sweet onions. Home cooks will savor this classic party appetizer that brings comfort and rich flavor to any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (590 ml) onions, diced (2 to 3 onions) (brown, yellow, or white)
- 4 oz (120 g) cream cheese, cold, cut into cubes
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream (full-fat preferred, but low-fat or yogurt can be used)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) butter
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add sliced onions with salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir continuously for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions transform into a deep golden, sweet delicacy.
- Cool Onions: Remove caramelized onions from heat and let cool to room temperature, allowing flavors to intensify and settle.
- Prepare Creamy Base: In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Briefly warm cream cheese in microwave if needed to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Combine Ingredients: Gently fold cooled caramelized onions into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
- Chill and Rest: Transfer dip to a sealed container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to develop a complex flavor profile.
- Serve: Remove dip from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to reach room temperature. Garnish with finely chopped chives and serve with crinkle-cut potato chips for optimal texture and taste.
Notes
- Master Caramelization Technique: Slow cooking transforms onions from sharp to sweet, requiring patience and low heat to develop rich, complex flavors without burning.
- Chill for Flavor Depth: Refrigerating the dip overnight allows ingredients to marry, intensifying the taste and creating a more harmonious blend of creamy and caramelized notes.
- Temperature Matters: Bringing the dip to room temperature before serving ensures smooth texture and maximizes the full spectrum of flavors locked within the ingredients.
- Texture Enhancement Tip: Choosing crinkle-cut potato chips provides the ideal crispy contrast to the smooth, creamy dip, elevating the overall eating experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg