Three unusual dips to try at home to make the best of your snacks

From novice to veteran party organizers, everyone knows the one absolute must-have dish at all home parties- 'Chips and Dip'.

Think about it. There isn't an age group that doesn't look forward to this staple at a party! But what makes it a staple, apart from it being absolutely delicious, is how easy it is to make and eat. It's a no-fuss starter for the host and the guest.

Now generally, when we think of Chips and dip, we get the image of a tangy hung curd and garlic dip with our favourite deep-fried chips (the packaged ones), which are more often than not accompanied with a serving of thick-cut cucumbers and carrots, for our more health-conscious guests.

Even though this staple is worth every calorie it contains, it does tend to get a tad bit boring if it's there on every menu. So why not mix things up from time to time!

Where it would be absolute blasphemy to suggest removing this quintessential party snack, we recommend giving it a fancy and delicious makeover!

Here are our favourite dip recipes to try at your next party! Not only are they super easy to make; they are so scrumptious that their yoghurt counterpart will not be missed:

1. Vegan pesto dip

This creamy dip is packed with good health and great taste! Originating from Italy, this sauce is traditionally used in pasta dishes and has a strong garlic-y flavour to it. Though it often uses parmesan cheese as one of the main ingredients, this recipe is vegan and thus doesn't have any cheese, but we assure you, it is as delicious as the original.

The vegan pesto works great if your guests have specific dietary preferences since, apart from being vegan, it is also gluten-free! The toughest part of the recipe is collecting the ingredients. No kidding, it'll take you a total of five minutes to make it- we promise! Here's what you need:

Ingredients

2 cups of fresh basil
3 tablespoons of pine nuts or walnuts (you can also use cashews, but walnuts imitate the taste of pine nuts the best!)
3 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
3-4 tablespoons of nutritional yeast (this is the cheesy element of the dish; so its exact measure depends on your taste)
¼ teaspoon of sea salt
2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 to 6 tablespoons of water (depending on the consistency you like)

Preparation

Peel the garlic cloves
Add the basil, nuts, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt to a food processor and blend till the ingredients form a paste
Little by little, add the olive oil
Lastly, add the water to get the desired consistency
Taste the pesto and adjust its flavour.

That's it; your pesto dip is ready to serve! It works best with lavash or pita bread, but you can also toast, rectangular cut regular white bread and serve them with the pesto! Should there be leftover dip from the night before, you can add water to the pesto and boiled noodles to make spaghetti for yourself!

2. Roasted red pepper hummus

A smoky and sumptuous; this hummus is unlike the ones you've had before! It takes you fifteen easy minutes to make, but its taste will linger in your senses for a long while after you've devoured it. Here's what you need to make this deliciousness:

Ingredients

2 cups of cooked chickpeas (keep aside the water it’s cooked it)
2 tablespoons of tahini (sesame seed paste- made with combining sesame seeds with a dash of oil and salt)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
2 cloves of garlic (peeled)
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of cumin (jeera powder)
½ teaspoon of coriander powder (dhaniya powder)
½ teaspoon of smoked paprika powder
½ teaspoon of red chilli
250 grams of red bell pepper

Preparation

Chargrill the red bell pepper until soft
Remove the black burnt skin of the pepper and set it aside
In a food processor, add the olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, cumin, coriander powder, smoked paprika and red chilli along with two tablespoons of the chickpea liquid; and blend till the ingredients come together
Scrape the sides of the blender and add the roasted pepper to blend again
Once the pepper has been adequately mashed into a paste, add the chickpeas and blend at high speed till a smooth paste is formed. If the paste is too thick, add another tablespoon of chickpea water and blend again
Taste the hummus and make adjustments accordingly
That's it; your delicious hummus is ready to be relished
Traditionally, hummus is served with pita bread and chips, but you can also serve it with cut vegetables and as a dip with wraps!

3. Chocolate dip

Oh, we had to have a sweet dip as well! Why, what else would you dip your cakes and biscuits into? This decadent chocolate dip is easy to prepare but so addictive that you'll end up making it even if you're not hosting a party! Here's what you need to make it:

Ingredients

¾ cup white sugar
1 ½ tablespoon of all-purpose flour (maida)
½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ¼ cup of milk
2 tablespoons of butter
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
A pinch of salt

Preparation

In a bowl, sieve the flour and add the cocoa powder and sugar
Mix well and set aside
Heat the milk and butter with the vanilla extract in a saucepan until the butter melts
Add the mixture of dried ingredients to the saucepan and mix well till all the sugar melts
Once the sauce is ready, add a pinch of salt and whisk again
That's it… Your crazy-good chocolate dip is ready! Serve it with tiny tea cakes, with ice cream or even with churros, and your party will be a hit!

Are you also chips and dip enthusiast, like us? Please send us your favourite recipes, and remember to try out ours as well!