The best vegan dips that can be made from scratch

The days of vegan food being perceived as boring are long gone, as even hardened meat-eaters are beginning to realise just how interesting, colourful and tasty vegan options can be. What’s more, there’s a vegan alternative to just about everything – even our favourite dips. With that in mind, here are some quick, easy dip recipes that can be made completely from scratch and are filled with vegan goodness. Serve with carrot sticks, tortilla chips or crispy potato wedges and you’re good to go!

Moreish Buffalo Cauliflower Dip

I know a good few vegans who would even struggle to get on board with a cauliflower dip, but this particular recipe is so tasty and comes with just a slight hint of spice. It makes the perfect accompaniment to movie nights on the sofa, with a bag of tortilla chips in hand.

To make, soak one cup of cashew nuts in water to soften, before adding to a food processor alongside steamed cauliflower, one can of drained chickpeas, a dollop of chilli sauce and 100ml of water. Blitz with 1/2 a tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and two tablespoons of yeast. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes for a deliciously moreish dip that can be eaten either hot or cold.

Fakeaway Garlic & Herb Dip

A good garlic and herb dip is difficult to beat – and a certain pizza delivery company serve perhaps the best around. Unfortunately it isn’t vegan, but with just a few ingredients it’s possible to make a very similar version that tastes exactly the same. What’s more, it’s gluten free too.

The recipe calls for 100g of cashew nuts, which are soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes to soften. Whizz in a food mixer alongside one clove of garlic, one tablespoon of lemon juice, one tablespoon of vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of agave syrup and 1/4 teaspoon of mustard. Top with chopped parsley and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with homemade vegan pizza and McCain Lightly Spiced Wedges to mimic the real thing as closely as possible.

Tried and tested guacamole

I couldn’t realistically list my favourite vegan dips without mentioning a hearty guacamole recipe. It’s perhaps one of the easiest makes in my arsenal, yet it has the potential to instantly transform a dish and always goes down a treat at dinner parties.

Place four pitted and skinned avocados in a mixing bowl and cover with 50ml of lime juice. Mash together and stir in half a diced white onion, two chopped cherry tomatoes, four cloves of crushed garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Add salt to taste and serve with freshly chopped carrot and celery sticks.

So there we have it, three quick and easy vegan dips that are well worth trying. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you give any of the recipes a go yourself!