Appetizers, Dips, and Sauces

Appetizers Dips and Sauces Recipes

Tangy Guacamole

This recipe makes a great addition to tacos. It also makes a great dip for tortilla chips. It is easy to make and tastes great.

1 large, ripe avocado
1 ½ teaspoons onion, minced
1 ½ teaspoons tomato, diced small
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
Optional – 3-4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Peel and mash the avocado with a fork. Mix in ingredients. Chill for ½ hour. If using as a dip, bury the avocado pit in the bottom of the bowl to keep the dip fresher longer.
Preparation time: 45 minutes

Marty's Favorite Salsa

This delicious salsa makes an excellent appetizer when served with corn chips and it is ready in a jiffy.

2 cloves garlic
1 jalapeno pepper with most of seeds removed
¼ large onion
1 teaspoon sea salt
14 ½ oz can of diced tomatoes
Juice of ½ lime or 1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Put garlic and jalapeno pepper in food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add rest of ingredients and pulse until desired consistency.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4-6

Hummus

This bean spread goes well as a dip for vegetables or served over warm pita. It keeps in the refrigerator for a good week.

1 cup chick peas
4 cups water
1 onion diced
½ cup organic raw tahini
2-3 teaspoon wheat free tamari or soy sauce
2 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon cumin seeds or powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon kelp
dash of coriander
paprika
optional: lemon juice, olive oil

Cover chick peas and water and soak overnight. Drain water and add 4 cups fresh water, chick peas, and onions to saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer covered for two hours or until chick peas are soft. Scoop out frothy white layer with a spoon and discard if present. When chick peas are soft remove from heat. Drain remaining liquid and set aside for later. In food processor pulse 2-4 cloves of garlic until fine consistency. Add cooked chick peas and onions and blend until smooth. Add tahini, tamari, parsley, cumin, sea salt, oregano, kelp, and coriander and blend. Add left over cooking liquid to make desired hummus consistency. Sprinkle with paprika at end. Some people love it with lemon juice and olive oil blended in. Adjust herbs and seasonings to fit your palate.
Preparation time: overnight
Cooking time: 2 ½ hours
Serves: 8-10

Baba Katie's Pepper Salad

This delicious spread goes well over some toasted whole grain bread and served with a green salad. It also goes well over eggs for a hearty breakfast.

8 Red bell peppers
2 Eggplants
- 1 can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- sea salt to taste
- ¾ cup oil

Roast peppers on grill or on top of stove until slightly black and soft and set aside to cool. Bake eggplant on 350 for one hour or until soft. Once peppers have cooled remove skin, core, seeds, and most of black charred material. Remove skin and stem of eggplant. In food processor chop garlic cloves. Then add in peppers and eggplant and pulse until it is a thick sauce. It may take more than more time to blend the mixture depending on the size of your processor. Put the pepper, eggplant, and garlic mixture in a casserole pan. Add tomato paste, paprika, sea salt, and oil to mixture and stir. Bake on 350 for 60 minutes or until oil floats to the top.
Bake Time: 3 hours
Servings: 6

Orange Peanut Dressing and Dip

Drizzle this dressing on bok choy for a tasty healthy appetizer

½ cup orange juice
¼ cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons raw cashew-butter or almond butter
1 teaspoon liquid aminos or reduced sodium soy sauce
¼ inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
¼ clove garlic

Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth.
Serves 4

Vanilla Cashew Cream Dip

This creamy delight can be enjoyed with your favorite fresh fruit or as a compliment to a healthy tea cake.

2cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 1/2 hour and drained
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup date paste
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Enjoy immediately or after refrigerating.Serves 6-8