Home made Dips

Thought might be handy at this time of year, and cheaper than shop bought alternatives.
My staple ingredients are mayonnaise, Greek or plain yoghourt/fromage fraise/creme-fraiche, home made tomato sauce, tins of beans such as canneloni/kidney/borlotti. From these you can make a wealth of dips. When buying yoghourts etc., go for longest lasting by sell date as you can, unless you know you are going to use them quickly. Depends on what I have in fridge whether I use yoghourt or fromage frais, creme fraiche, so will just state yoghourt in recipes for easiness! Soft cream cheese is also good.

Mayonnaise/Yoghourt based dips - use 2tblsp mayonnaise, 2 tblsp yoghourt, squeeze lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Prawn cocktail sauce/dip - Add 2 tsp tomato sauce, paprika. Add some finely chopped garlic/garlic salt if liked. Mix well.

Mustard dip - 1 tsp grainy or Dijon mustard.

Cheese & Onion - 1 oz finely grated strong cheddar, finely chopped onion/spring onion/chives

Garlic - little finely chopped garlic/garlic salt.

Chive/spring onion - finely chopped.

Tex/Mex - 1 tsp tomato sauce, finely chopped chilli, or few drops chilli sauce.

Indian - add 1 tsp any curry paste or powder, or some curry sauce.

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Raita - 4 tblsp yoghourt, finely chopped cucumber, 1/4 tsp garam masala. Add some finely chopped onion if liked, or if very brave, finely chopped chilli.

Avocado Salsa - Mash avocado with some lemon juice, then mix in yoghourt and some finely chopped chilli/chilli sauce. This doesn't keep very well, so has to be made just prior to using.

Home made Tomato sauce - (tin tomatoes chopped, finely chopped onion, garlic, tomato puree, 1tsp dried oregano (basil/Italian herbs) salt and pepper, dash of Worcestershire sauce if liked - blast in micro for 10/15 mins or simmer for 15/20 mins). Will take a bit longer cooking to make into thick sauce for dips.

Good chilled and served as dip on its own ....... or add

1 tsp curry powder or paste, or some curry sauce.

Finely chopped chilli/chilli sauce/powder for mexican type tomato salsa. Add chopped cucumber, spring onion, sweetcorn if you like.

Tinned beans
Drain, whizz in processor, mix with yoghourt and lemon juice.

Add finely chopped garlic, chilli.

Add finely chopped garlic, chilli, cumin and cayenne pepper.

Add chopped olives and capers.

Well, some ideas to get you going anyway. I just use whatever I have, and make it up from there! Don't use any dried herbs in dips unless already cooked, as in tomato sauce. Fresh herbs finely chopped are fine.