This is an easy tomato dip for family gatherings, barbecues, tailgating, and movie nights. It comes together in 15 minutes and keeps for about a week in the refrigerator and can double as a sun-dried tomato spread for sandwiches and wraps.
About sun-dried tomatoes
Sun-dried tomatoes are fresh, ripe tomatoes that have been cut in half and dried in the sun, literally. Or at least that's the way it's done in many countries. They lose all their water content and the flavor intensifies and becomes more concentrated.
Today, there are ways of artificially drying them and achieving similar results. Here's how to make your own.
Uses for sun-dried tomatoes: you can add some chopped or processed tomatoes to soups, sauces, and stews, use it as a pizza topper, in a filled bread, baked ricotta, pesto, strata, and so much more.
You can buy them online, plain whole or chopped (image below, left) or in oil (image below, right).
If you do make them at home, keeping them in olive oil is a great way. I almost always have a jar in the refrigerator. Spice it up with peeled garlic cloves, some red pepper flakes, or herbs.
Why this appetizer dip works
- It comes together in 20 minutes.
- It serves a crowd and can be easily duplicated.
- It can be made ahead and kept in the refrigerator.
- You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.
- It is versatile enough to use as a burger or sandwich condiment or pasta sauce.
The beauty of this sun-dried tomato dip is in its simplicity.
Still, you can add spicy sauces, chopped jalapeños in adobo or whatever fresh chili is your thing if you want a kick. Top it with fried chopped green onions as I do for crunchiness.
It will save you as a last-minute addition to a party appetizer table, dip for unexpected guests, or a snack for a night in or tailgating party.
Make sure you have good crackers, breadsticks or chips. It ain't a dip without them.
Top tips
- Flavor: adapt it to your personal flavor. Make it spicier, use less mayo, more pepper, whatever suits your taste buds. It's you eating it after all. Omit the spicy, reduce the mayo and add some oven-baked tomatoes, or roasted garlic (a no-brainer really, who can argue with that).
- Uses: I have made it for parties, for barbecues, and even used it in chicken sandwiches and it's beyond good. Duplicate or triple it and make it up to a week in advance.
- Processor: the processor is of the essence, whether it's a large or a handheld one, it's necessary to really disintegrate the tomatoes as much as you can. A chunky dip is not a bad idea, but in this sun-dried tomato dip recipe, you want to keep those morsels to a minimum. A good blender works too if you're used to it; I find it hard to remove all of the mixture from the jar, so I don't use it.
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Easy Sun-dried Tomato Spread
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Ingredients
- 8-10 plump sun-dried tomatoes, hydrated in boiling water and coarsely chopped
- ½ cup cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream, at room tempearture
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons of your favorite spicy sauce or chiles in adobo
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped chives
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced (divided)
Instructions
- Fry half the green onion in a bit of olive oil. Drain and reserve.
- In a food processor put cream cheese, mayonnaise, spicy sauce, salt and pepper to taste.
- Blend until creamy.
- Add tomatoes and blend until no large pieces remain.
- Transfer to a bowl, add chives and the remaining half of green onions, except for half a tablespoon of each for garnish.
- Mix well and check seasonings.
- Serve in a bowl sprinkled with chives, fresh and fried green onions and crackers.
Notes
Adapted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
David says
Sounds fantastic - and I actually have all the ingredients on hand! Will be making this for guests this weekend. Thanks, Paula!
Paula Montenegro says
It's one of those recipes that are great to have on hand!
angiesrecipes says
Easy peacy and so yummy too! I have some homemade dried tomatoes that I can definitely use in this dip. Thanks for sharing, Paula.
Paula Montenegro says
Thank you Angie!