How to make Creamy French Onion Dip? (Full of Umami Flavor)

• Recipe: French Onion Dip
• Writer: Lizzie Green
• Content-Type: Food Blog

This homemade French onion dip puts the store-bought one to shame! Creamy, tangy, and filled with umami flavor, it’s likely to vanish in minutes.

For me, there’s virtually nothing more nostalgic than French onion dip and ridged potato chips.

They take me right back to the Christmas parties of my childhood, where store-bought tubs of French onion dip had a regular home on the snack table.

When my sister and I were growing up, my mom always fed us nutritious, homemade meals, so that French onion dip was a wonderful treat. I’d shovel down as much of it as I could, loving every taste of the creamy dip with the salty chips.

This year, I finally got around to making my own French onion dip recipe. It’s significantly healthier than the dip I liked as a kid, but it’s just as addictive and even tastier.

The first time I made it, I found Jack standing in front of the fridge, devouring it as a late-night snack.

When I prepared it again a few days later, I had to inform him it was off-limits. It’s creamy, tangy, and packed with rich umami flavor. I wasn’t about to let him have it all to himself!

French Onion Dip Recipe Ingredients

Unlike other homemade French onion dip recipes, this one is fully vegan and dairy-free! Instead of creating the foundation using sour cream, mayonnaise, and/or cream cheese, I use my go-to cashew sour cream recipe.

The cashews give it a wonderful creamy texture, and Dijon mustard, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, and onion powder make it tart and savory.

Note that it’s best produced in a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, be sure to soak your cashews at least 4 hours in advance.

Once you prepare the cashew cream, you’ll add these items to make the dip:

• Caramelized onions — For rich, sweet, and savory onion flavor! You’ll only need 1 onion to prepare this dip, but I recommend caramelizing leftover onions and storing them in the fridge or freezer. You may add them to spaghetti, pizzas, egg dishes, or more dip down the road!
• Onion powder — It gives the dip a rich, intense onion taste.
• Fresh chives – For garnish! Their fresh flavor contrasts wonderfully with the rich caramelized onions and umami onion powder.
• And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

How to Make French Onion Dip

This French onion dip dish is easy to make, but it does demand that you plan ahead. If you don’t already have caramelized onions on hand, you’ll need to cook them first.

Caramelizing onions is simple (all it involves is heating them over low heat, stirring occasionally), but it does take time. Be sure to allow aside at least an hour to cook the onions before you create the dip, as well as time for them to cool.

When the onions are at room temperature (they can alternatively be fridge-cold if you already have them on hand), mix up the cashew cream.

As I noted above, you’ll need to soak the cashews ahead of time if you don’t have a high-speed blender.

Then, mix up the dip! Chop up the caramelized onions, and add them to a bowl with the cashew cream. Stir in the onion powder, salt, and pepper, and season to taste. Pop the dip in the fridge for an hour to chill before you eat.

When you’re ready to serve, garnish the dip with the chives, and dive in! I will always recommend serving this French onion dip with ridged potato chips, but if you don’t have them on hand, plain potato chips or fresh veggies would work well.

Store any leftover dip in the fridge for up to 4 days. It’ll thicken as it chills, so you may want to dilute it with water, a teaspoon at a time before you serve it. Enjoy!

French Onion Dip

This French onion dip is creamy, acidic, and packed with umami flavor! Served with potato chips or veggies, it’s a terrific appetizer or snack.

If you don’t already have caramelized onions on hand, notice that you’ll need to budget roughly 90 minutes to make them and allow them to cool before mixing up the dip.

Ingredients

• 1 recipe Cashew Sour Cream
• 1/2 packed cup chopped Caramelized Onions*, chilled or at room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives
• Potato chips, for serving

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the cashew sour cream, caramelized onions, onion powder, salt, and several pinches of pepper. Cover, and chill for one hour.
2. Top the cold dip with the chives and serve with potato chips.

Notes

• From around 1 onion. It’s easier to make the complete batch and have extra than to fry just 1 onion. Caramelized onions will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You may also freeze them for up to 2 months.