August 16, 2016

Paleo Potluck Recipes: The Dips

These 3 great Paleo or Primal dip recipes have been tried and tested by Paleo mom Leslie Blood and her kiddos.  Yep, kid tested and approved.  :)

Paleo Potluck, dip recipes

“What can I bring?” You may have asked this question repeatedly throughout the summer when friends invite you to parties, barbeques and neighborhood potlucks. More times than not the answer is “how about chips and a dip?”

From a Paleo perspective this can be tough. When you say “no thanks” to gluten and beans and added sugars you have to think creatively.

Let’s start that process with a few easy wins. This list of paleo Potluck ready dips will have you trying and sharing new, healthy Paleo options in no time.

Beet “Hummus”

New to Paleo? Remember: Beans and all legumes are a no-go because they contain anti-nutrients which can lead to inflammation and a host of digestive issues for some people. This recipe makes an excellent replacement for those old bean & sugar concoctions you used to call “dip”.

Paleo beet dip

This became my favorite after a huge beet harvest from our local CSA. I roasted, pickled and then served more beets than my kids could stand. I desperately needed a new way to use the three-plus pounds I was getting a week. There was no way I was letting all that awesome organic produce go to waste.

I had seen a beautiful beet hummus at a local restaurant made with chickpeas and felt inspired to try it out with a Paleo twist, so I came home and made this bean-free option.

I use this dip as a topping for my salads. Nothing dresses up a tuna and greens combo like a giant scoop of beet “hummus.” Be forewarned…if you eat enough beets you will notice some interesting changes in the bathroom.

  • 2 cups cooked beets, peeled and ready to eat.
  • 2-4 cloves of garlic
  • 3 tbsp. tahini
  • Juice from three lemons or 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Salt to taste

Add all the ingredients and blend in a food processor or high powered blender. Make sure the garlic is fully incorporated in the dip before you quit blending. Finally, salt to taste. The end result will be a show-stopping magenta dip.

Beet “Hummus” is the perfect alternative to dairy or bean based dips such as ranch, onion dips and those elaborate seven layer concoctions. The texture is just as rich and thick, but this dip is nut, dairy and gluten-free. Try it out with carrot sticks, grape tomatoes, slices of cucumber and even apples.  

Whipped Basil Butter

Sweet and spicy radishes can be more than just a slice and dice salad topping or cheap garnish on your restaurant plate. Whip up this Basil Butter and use those ruby radish gems to scoop and snack.

Primal, not Paleo

Primal Whipped Butter dip

Primal, not Paleo

This butter-based Primal dip benefits from a little extra salt sprinkled at the end and the meaty crunch from the added walnuts. If you are feeling extra fancy you can dip the radish in butter and coat with chopped walnuts.

  • 2 sticks unsalted and preferably grass-fed butter, room temperature
  • 1 heaping cup of basil, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic 
  • 15-20 baby radishes with their greens attached
  • 1 cup walnut halves, gently toasted and chopped if desired

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and toast your walnut halves until fragrant. This took about 10 minutes in my oven, but watch your walnuts closely so that they do not burn.

While your walnuts are toasting away, mix the softened butter, garlic lemon juice and salt until well-combined. Once you have a smooth, uniform consistency, carefully fold in the basil. Scoop the blend into a pretty serving bowl and garnish with a few grinds of fresh black pepper.

Wash and dry your radishes and get ready to dig in. Sweep your radish through the softened butter, grab a walnut and take a bite. If you want to chop up your walnuts, you can just dunk your buttered radish into the walnuts and enjoy.

Got leftover butter? Use it to top grass-fed steak, organic chicken or just melt the butter as a base for scrambled eggs for a perfectly Primal breakfast.

Sunflower Fudge Fruit Dip

Even when you do your very best to adhere to a Paleo diet, sometimes you just need a sweet treat. This chocolate and sunflower seed butter dip is nut-free and super kid-friendly.

Paleo sunflower fudge dip

When dessert time rolls around, see what seasonal fruit looks the best at your local market and head straight home to whip up this chocolatey indulgence.

  • 1 cup sunflower seed butter without added sugar
  • 10 dates soaked for 1 hour
  • 2-4 tablespoons coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons cacao powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

3-4 cups of sliced bananas, strawberries, apples or fruits of your choice. I have found that stone fruits which are plentiful and cheap this time of year can be a cool alternative to the traditional fruit plate options.

Add the sunflower seed butter, soaked dates and coconut milk into a food processor or high speed blender. Process until thoroughly combined. Add in the cinnamon, cacao powder and salt. Process again until smooth.

If your mixture looks too thick, add in one tablespoon of milk at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Some nut and seed butters are more viscous than others, so add liquid slowly till your dip resembles a thick pudding.

Pour your dip into a bowl, grab some of your chopped fruit and plate. This is also a great dip to take to kids’ school parties since it is allergy friendly.

*Primal, not Paleo.  Primal refers to the Paleo diet guidelines with the addition of grass fed dairy products.  It works well for some, not for others.  Please be aware that any recipes marked "Primal" will have dairy products in them.

Want this recipe as a 1 page PDF you can easily print?  Check out our eBook, On Being Paleo, which includes 30+ recipes (including this one) along with an easy Intro to Paleo and a guide through the 7 Pillars of Paleo.

 

Check out our recommendations for more great reading!

 

 


Leslie Blood

Author

Paleo mama Leslie B is a regular contributor to the Paleo Treats blog. She is a recipe wizard and has two full time testers ready to taste everything she makes. Leslie lives in Colorado and in between raising her testers (aka little boys) and work manages to find time to run in the mountains and write down her best recipes.


Too much reading...
How about dessert?

Too Much Reading...How About Dessert?

1 Comment

Zil Wol
Zil Wol

August 19, 2016

I enjoy Leslie’s articles and look forward to new “issues”! Not only are they tasty and healthy, but also an artful way of presenting food! I look forward to my next invitation and have three superb suggestions, thanks to Leslie, of what to bring!

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