Vegan Onion Dip | Imamother

Amarante

Wed, Nov 09 2022, 1:17 pm

Vegan Onion Dip

Yield: 4 to 6 servings (about 3 cups)

This was quite a good substitution for classic onion dip which needs to be made with real sour cream.

Cashews are used quite a bit in vegan cooking to replicate dairy taste and texture in a healthy way.

Great addition because one can set out the classic onion dip even when the meal includes meat. LOL

It needs to be made ahead of time for the flavors to "marry"

For the creamiest, dreamiest vegan onion dip, use a high-speed blender, if you have one. There is some down time in this recipe — soaking the cashews and letting the dip rest — but don’t be tempted to skip those steps. The cashews need to soak so they blend as smoothly as possible, and the finished dip benefits greatly from some time to let the flavors come together. Prepare it a day in advance and refrigerate overnight for best results.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw cashews (about 4 ounces)
3 cups chopped yellow onions (from 2 medium onions)
¼ cup olive oil
Kosher salt and coarse black pepper
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained (about 1 cup)
4 teaspoons lemon juice, plus more as needed
4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
Chopped chives, for garnish (optional)
Potato chips or crudités, for serving

PREPARATION

Add the cashews to a bowl and cover with water. Let the cashews soak at room temperature for 2 hours.

About 45 minutes before the cashews are finished soaking, combine the chopped onions, olive oil and a pinch of salt in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are deep golden brown and caramelized, about 30 minutes. To prevent the onions from burning and sticking to the bottom of the skillet, you can add a splash of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed. Let caramelized onions cool slightly.

Drain the cashews and add them to the bowl of a food processor or high-speed blender with the beans and ½ cup water. Blend the mixture until smooth, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer and scraping down the bowl occasionally.

Add the lemon juice, vinegar, onion powder, paprika and ½ teaspoon salt, and blend again until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Reserve about 1 tablespoon onions for garnish, then add the rest to the bowl. Fold the onions into the mixture, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. (Overnight is ideal for the best flavor.)

Just before serving, give the dip a good stir and adjust the seasoning with lemon juice and salt as desired. Top with the reserved onions and chives, if desired, and a few grinds of black pepper. Serve with potato chips or crudités. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.