Roasting a set of standard salsa ingredients first may add some time to an otherwise quick process, but it's all for good as the end result retains a freshness while gaining a tomato intensity, some sweetness, and a more mild heat the melds seamlessly throughout. More
[Photograph: Leela Punyaratabandhu] Note: Pandan (or pandanus) leaves are available frozen at most Asian grocery stores. If you can find them, you can leave them out entirely and scent the dip with a teaspoon of vanilla extract. You can also... More
Fresh, tangy, and spicy, this salsa verde was just what was called for to fulfill a longing after a week of excellent Mexican eats in Austin. More
Artichoke dip is popular for good reason: it's a bubbly, cheesy crowd-pleaser. [Photograph: Jennifer Olvera] Note: Leftovers are tasty tucked into skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts. Just slice chicken horizontally down the center until you can open it like a book.... More
This thick, creamy tarragon and basil dip and dressing is giving a green buttery oomph with blended avocado. Great for salads, but even better for crudités and shrimp cocktail. More
Pico di Gallo meets tuna tartare in this charred tuna and avocado salsa. Serve it with corn chips and go to town. More
Anchoïade is a quirky alternative to tapenade made from just four ingredients: anchovies, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar. Serve it as a dip for crudités or as a spread for bread, all with a glass of white wine or rosé. More
Unlike hummus or baba ghanoush, Muhammara is relatively unknown on the Middle Eastern dip scene. This blend of roasted red peppers and toasted walnuts is buzzed together with chile, garlic, cumin, and pomegranate molasses, a combo that gives the already sweet peppers deeply complex notes of heat, spice, and a mellow tartness. This already intriguing dips is finished with hand torn mint leaves that add not only a bit of pleasing green but also a coolness. More
Hummus with pita chips is my go-to snack (anyone else?). Until recently, I lived off the storebought variety, with my homemade hummus never being up to snuff with the likes of Sabra. But then I had a revelation in hummus-making. More
