Dairy/ soya free dip help please!

building_with_lego

I am a volunteer cookery teacher in one of the local schools and one of the children in this year's cohort is allergic to both dairy and soya. Our first session usually involves making a cream cheese and chive dip and a yogurt and honey one, with two veg or fruit to dip into each.

My question to the wise ones: what on earth can we 'cook' with them that isn't dairy or soya based?! We need a sweet and a savoury if possible.
My mind is a blank. They're 5 and 6 years old so it needs to be pretty straightforward, and involve some snipping (as in cutting the chives) or mashing. Is it asking too much to get them mashing beans for houmus? :rotfl:

All ideas welcome!

Alison_Funnell

Could you make a savoury dip from mushy peas? Maybe adding chopped mint or some mint sauce?

Mashed banana with a little cocoa powder (not drinking chocolate) and sweetener (sugar/honey).

vanoonoo

i cant have dairy or soy either but have found some lovely pate type things in tubes at the healthfood shops, could you perhaps get something thats partly made already and add things to it - you mention houmus - what about getting them to add stuff to some thats already made if the blitzing bit is too much for them?

maybe you could partially mash the chick peas first for them if starting from scratch?

the pate brands in the tube I like are tartex (I get mine from amazon) but holland an barret do granovita brand which is ok (but not as nice as tartex)

vanoonoo

I am fairly sure that heinz sandwich spread is dairy and soy free (might have eggs in tho so check he's ok with egg!) so that might work as a base to add other stuff to?

struggling with the sweet thing other than banana which alison's already suggested (was my first thought too!)

how about marshmallow and fruit kebabs, atho I can see all hell break loose with pointy sticks and 6 year olds!? check ingredients in marshmallows but might be ok and could dip into some sort of fruit spread moosh (strawbs?) you can snip marshmallows with scissors and put into fake hot choc if you can get hold of the carob drinks again from health food shops.

dont be scared to ask his parent what they suggest - they can prob point you in the direction of exactly what you need x

vanoonoo

mayo! and if he cant have egg, egg free mayo (I like the one with garlic in it)! again, from health food shop and you can add your chives just like before

still thinking about sweet stuff

building_with_lego

Golly yes, mayo! See what I mean about my blank mind?!

He's fine with egg and nuts (so long as we don't have the nut allergy child in the same group we'll be fine!) so we can do a mayo dip that's pretty similar to the regular recipe.

The sweet one is tricky, isn't it? I'm glad it's not just me! Maybe we'll end up having a savoury only week with that group.

Thanks for the ideas all, this place is such a wonderful source of knowledge. :T

vanoonoo

it's weird tho cos my mind went blank too and I am flipping living it! took me ten mins to remember mayo! LOL!

I am chuckling about the nut free child too now - dont fancy your job mate lots of luck and licks of fingers - i am off out to town in a bit if my nose stops running so if I have a brain wave in the market I'll be sure to come back and let you know x

D&DD

Do have a chat with the parents if you have time,I can bore for England regarding my son's diet He was on an incredibly strict gluten/casein free diet at one point and I used to provide any ingredients if I knew he had cooking sessions/birthday cakes/picnics etc they'll be pleased you are taking it so seriously and it may help you out in coming weeks if its a regular thing.

vanoonoo

JAM!

also saw some squeezy stuff meant for flavouring yogs but is basically squished up fruit. could serve on nice crusty bread?

bossymoo

My littlest was intol to dairy and soya. I used mayo with different flavourings, and hummous. For sweet she likes jam and lemon curd. But also those pots of fruit pur!e you get in the baby section.

Holland and Barrett do one called "wot no dairy" which is sort of like yoghurt, but made from cultured pea protein. They have fruit flavoured and plain. Beware, the plain one is quite sweet. We tried to make a savoury dip from it and :yuk: lol

jemb

Sainsburys do the garlic free from mayo too x