No football-viewing party would be complete without chips and dip. Salsa and guacamole are two of the more popular ones with guests, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook others.
The following recipe, from Maker’s Mark Bourbon, contains ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt and sour cream as well as Vidalia onions, lemon juice and a little olive oil. It would be great with chip and vegetables such as carrots, celery and the like.
Bourbon Onion Dip
½ cup bourbon
4 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large sweet onions/Vidalias, peeled, halved, sliced thinly with the grain
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup fresh ricotta cheese
¾ cup Greek yogurt
½ cup sour cream
Few drops lemon juice
Pinch sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Crudite vegetables and chips for dipping
In a wide heavy-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the sliced onions and the teaspoon of salt. Saute the onions, stirring often until they begin to soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to stir and cook the onions until they begin to color, about another 15 minutes. Add ½ cup bourbon to the pan and stir in. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for another 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions have colored and caramelized. Remove the onions from the pan and spread on a plate or baking sheet to cool in the fridge.
Using a food processor or blender, combine the ricotta, yogurt and remaining 1 tablespoon bourbon and process until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Fold in the sour cream. Once the onions have cooled, rough chop them briefly. Fold into the mixture and season to taste with lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper. Serve the dip cold with crudite and chips.
Yield: Serves 6 to 10.