Mixed Review: Lipton's Onion Dip and Simply Organic's Guacamole for Football Parties
For quarterbacks and wide receivers, the football playoffs are all about touchdowns, field goals, and fumbles. For the rest of us, they're all about cold beers, crunchy chips, and creamy dips.
With the NFC and AFC Championship games this Sunday and the Super Bowl coming up on February 1st, I decided to "tackle" two of America's favorite football snacking staples in this week's Mixed Review: Lipton's French onion dip and Simply Organic's guacamole.
Lipton French Onion Dip
When it comes to classic, creamy onion dip, nothing compares to Lipton. It's a rec room party staple, best served alongside an economy-sized bag of Fritos and a remote control. Simply dump a packet of instant soup mix in a bowl, add a 16-ounce container of sour cream, and volia—instant appetizer. It's so easy you could make and serve the whole thing during a single commercial break.
I haven't had Lipton's dip since an ill-fated high school make-out party (I forgot to bring breath mints), and I must say, it tasted exactly as I remembered: salty, thick, and a little bit sugary. Upon inspection of the package, I was pleased to see that the first ingredient listed was, in fact, onions. Subsequent ingredients, however, were less agreeable: corn syrup; partially hydrogenated soybean oil; and monosodium glutamate, otherwise known as MSG.
After just a few bites, I found myself longing for something to cut through the viscous, gooey consistency of the dip—like a celery stick or, better yet, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Simply Organic Guacamole
Next up, and at the other end of the nutrition spectrum, was guacamole by Simply Organic, which costs $1.25 at Whole Foods. The package gave instructions for three versions of guacamole. The easiest involved stirring the mix with two cups of mashed avocados (about two avocados). The "rich and creamy" version added 1/2 cup of sour cream, and "garden fresh" included 1/4 cup diced tomatoes. After the Lipton dip I was feeling a little sick of sour cream, so I opted for the tomato version.
Thanks to all-organic ingredients such as red pepper, garlic, and cilantro, my guacamole turned out flavorful and spicy, with a gentle kick (more of a punt, really) of heat. I thought it needed a few additions—most notably lime juice and a bit of salt—in order to stand up to homemade versions of guacamole, but all-in-all it was quite good and worthy of gourmet-variety tortilla chips.
Final Thoughts
In the end, both dips have their place on the buffet table. It's simply a matter of style. If your football party is a throwback—pun intended—replete with pigs-in-blankets, Buffalo wings, and PBR, then the Lipton dip would fit right in. If, however, you're planning something a little more refined—sirloin sliders, veggies and hummus, maybe even a bottle of wine or two—then go for the guacamole.
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36 Comments:
gross as it may be, liptons rules. now that's old school!
kapnic at 8:12PM on 01/16/09
"You know what they say about corn syrup, right?"
"What? That it's made from corn?"
lol.
Another great way to use lipton onion dip is on roasted potatoes. Yummy.
ReneeRobinson at 8:13PM on 01/16/09
it seems like you might as well make guacamole at that rate instead of use the mix. the liptons i have to say i understand -- it's an institution of dipdom!
megannesta at 8:18PM on 01/16/09
I used to make the Lipton's dip all the time as a kid, and my Dad would always put a couple of dashes of worcestershire sauce to it... tasty.
jason at 9:24PM on 01/16/09
I like the Knorr veggie soup dip better than the Lipton onion. And I am confused about the guacamole mix - I just crush up some avacadoes with a little salt and fresh garlic then I mix in some chopped tomato and onion. What's in the package? Dehydrated tomato, onion and garlic? If your buying a fresh avacado you might as well spring for the other fresh ingredients.
I do swear by the lipton onion for my Mum's famous potroast - a little onion mix, a can of campbells cream of mushroom soup and lots of red wine - HEAVEN!!!
wickedorchid at 9:26PM on 01/16/09
WTF is even IN guacamole "mix"? When I make guacamole it is avocado, lime juice and salt. Maybe a chopped red onion if I'm feeling ambitious. Why does this need a mix?
Chris_Hennes at 10:56PM on 01/16/09
i have to agree with your "viscous" assessment on the onion dip. I used to think it was good until my mom started making onion dip from scratch using a Good Eats recipe. Trust me this recipe is amazing. One time when I asked for dip she tried to trick me and gave me the powder stuff and I was like "WTF is this?!" at first bite.
prncsjenny at 11:08PM on 01/16/09
All we use to make the guacamole we both LOVE is just avocados, lemon juice, salt, and a little olive oil.
Tahitinova at 11:11PM on 01/16/09
What's in non-mix onion dip when you make it from scratch. I mean, besides onions...
Chris_Hennes at 11:15PM on 01/16/09
If I can make a suggestion - for really fast guacamole, all you need is the avocados and some good (preferably fresh) salsa. A squeeze of lime is always nice. But really - all the things you'd be putting in are in salsa. It makes quite a passable version.
leilah at 11:39PM on 01/16/09
Lipton French onion has a special place in my heart, though I like to eat it with potato chips (Ruffles with ridges to be exact). The trick is to just dip it, don't scoop the goop on your chip. And, sharing is caring for both your waist line and belly. Mmmm....
Linnea Covington at 12:45AM on 01/17/09
Ive been buying the guacamole mix for quite a few years now, it never turns out good. If the avocados aren't big enough it's really salty and overwhelms the taste of the avocado. If they're too big it taste salty and bland. Thanks to all of your post I am going to try some of the recipes above. Duh I feel so stupid. I thought making guacamole from scratch was hard. Oh yes and the Lipton onion dip is a must have.
chardonnay at 1:51AM on 01/17/09
Agree w/ Linnea re. Lipton's onion dip - not Fritos, rippled potato chips! Mmmm...
Don't really see what a dehydrated mix adds to simple avocadoes, tomatoes, lime juice, salt, cilantro and maybe a little salsa.
emilydev at 8:39AM on 01/17/09
I make fresh pico di gallo to add to the avocadoes for my guac and it still doesnt take very long.
lexophile at 9:17AM on 01/17/09
If your are making dip, you mustn't forget the classics: spinach dip and seven-layer dip!
phil_jones at 10:01AM on 01/17/09
Not sure if anyone saw the earlier SuperBowl topic but I won a Trip to New Orleans in 2002 with a warm mushroom dip made with a onion dip similar to Lipton. I was lots of fun!
joanpieroni2 at 3:32PM on 01/17/09
Serving the Knorr onion soup in a bread bowl with veggies to dip is a little tastier, more impressive and gets some healthier stuff in your system.
I also agree about Guacamole being so easy to make that the dip sounds like it's at least equal in terms of steps, maybe adding some.
MMinNYC at 3:57PM on 01/17/09
Guacamole dip packet: guacamole::stone: stone soup.
Michele Humes at 12:34AM on 01/18/09
here's another yea for lipton's onion soup mix- I like it exactly as you described, and my mom's spinach dip (which I adore) wouldn't be complete without knorr's veggie soup mix- though I do think dried mixes are best after some time to rehydrate and "marry", especially with fatty ingredients. But guac mix? If you're going to dirty a knife cutting the avocados and tomatoes, why not dice up some cilantro, halve and juice a lime, finely dice some onion and jalepenos (or I also like green tabasco if I'm feeling lazy) and salt to taste? It's really not that much harder, and I think it's vastly preferable. I also don't mean to nickel and dime, but in my (hispanic) neighborhood, a big bunch of cilantro is about 35 cents, and limes and jalepenos are about a dime each. Some people also like a clove of garlic pushed through a press, though I think that it can be overwhelming (even though I don't go to makeout parties any more!). However, if your knife skills aren't quite up to expert standards, the onion and jalepeno can be "diced" quite effectively in the hopper of a garlic press once cut to the appropriate size- just make sure to do it over the guac bowl, since they will exude a lot of flavorful juice!
Oh, and as an aside- if anyone has an "improvement" on lil' smokies in crescent dough, I don't want to hear it. Some classics should not be tampered with.
Ravara at 12:43AM on 01/18/09
Another 'don't get it' on the guacamole mix over here. I get orders for my guac whenever there is a party and all I put in is avocadoes, diced tomatoes, lime juice, and chili powder. Sometimes a little green onion. Just as easy and cost effective as the 'mix'.
everythingsfree at 2:50PM on 01/18/09
@ Michele
Huh, that's the third Stone Soup reference I've heard this week. Strange.
mjchung at 3:04PM on 01/18/09
A "refined" football party sounds like zero fun.
Though hummus seems to have made its way into the mainstream as a tasty snack.
Also seconding the Good Eats "california dip"/ onion dip recipe. Very good.
jd7979 at 9:10AM on 01/19/09
I have a place in my heart for the lipton onion soup dip. My mom always threw in some horseradish. Yum!
jlbrach at 9:38AM on 01/19/09
joan--is your recipe for the mushroom dip posted somewhere?
cook's illustrated has some great creamy dips that i have made multiple times. one is a green goddess, one has avocado and chipotle, and one is with smoked salmon--they all appeared together, and they have become go-to for party dips for me.
carriebwc at 11:30AM on 01/19/09
Another add in to the Lipton Onion dip is bleu cheese. I crumble about 3-4 oz. into the mix. It gives it a nice pungent flavor and it's actually really good as a condiment for burgers on the grill. Darn it now I really want some....
Martini Me at 1:25PM on 01/19/09
Chris- when I make non mix onion dip, I carmelize the onions and mix them with equal parts cream cheese, mayo and sour cream plus salt, pepper, hotsauce. I like it so much better than the packaged stuff, to my tastes it's way too salty.
My mother likes to use the onion mix for her brisket though.
missjess at 9:15AM on 01/22/09
To the Lipton Onion dip add a can of tunafish, oil drained, or some shrimp,mmmm!
drsmoke at 11:45AM on 01/25/09
My favorite with the Lipton dip is BBQ potato chips - YUM!
jmoilanen at 2:47PM on 01/25/09
It took a while but my partner and I finally determined why we like Costoc's spinach dip so much. It tastes like Liption's onion dip with green bits in it. But if you did not grow up with Lipton's onion soup mix dip as a special treat then you are not going to like it now and I suspect the same is true for the Costco spinach dip.
JohnFred at 10:07AM on 01/26/09
that lipton dip is the bomb. hubby and i often mix it up with reduced fat sour cream and chop up a pile of veggies and have it for dinner, esp good on celery, broccoli, radishes and asparagus. as junk food goes you could do much worse.
on the guac mix - I never understand this concept - if I am going to have to chop up avoacados anyway, why wouldn't I do the rest with fresh ingredients? we always make ours from scratch with avocados, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, lemon/lime juice, garlic, scallions, cayenne, red pepper flakes, sometimes a little red onion - another dinner favorite of ours (for a treat)
Gizmosma at 10:52AM on 01/26/09
Hands down, the best french onion dip available is made by lawson's. It comes in a pre-made tub and it's like heaven. I used to be available (in ohio at least) at a convenience store called Lawson's, which was then bought by Dairy Mart, Which was then bought by Circle K. As far as I know Lawson's no longer exists as a convenience store, but Circle K still sells their wonderful dip.
becomingchloe at 10:53AM on 01/26/09
My son, now 34, really loved the Lipton Onion soup dip with Frittos as a kid, he has moved on but when ever he comes home for a visit Mom still makes it for him, only dip he would eat as a kid. Still use it for Pot Roast. Love it! Will try making my own avocado dip this weekend for the Super bowl, but with no Patriots in the game it will not be the same!
MarilynMcW at 11:44AM on 01/26/09
When making Lipton Onion dip, I use half sour cream and half mayo, and I add 4 or 5 roasted garlic cloves. YUM! the mayo takes away some of that viscious mouth feel, and the roasted garlic adds much to the flavor.
busman94 at 1:41PM on 01/26/09
Have never used Lipton Onion soup as a dip mix and definitely have never used a mix for Guac - WTF is in a Guac Mix?! I'll pass on both... I love fresh, homemade Guac and I just made Carmalized Onion Dip (http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/caramelized-onion-dip-recipe.html) which was AWESOME!!! Go for the "real thing" people! :)
ddvierra68 at 2:44PM on 01/27/09
I LOVE the lipton and sour cream, I actually had an urge for it last night and made a double batch, YUM!!!
I've never been big on guac... sorry, but it's too baby diaperish for ish (me)...
jjoneseats at 1:19PM on 01/28/09
I used one packet and 16oz of sour cream, it seemed a little more diluted then when I usually make it...(I stupidly threw the box away and left the packet in my cupboard so I didn't have the recipe) I don't know if I did something wrong...
SpinDoctor at 8:34PM on 02/01/09