spinach dip

[fried_eggs]

Anyone know any good spinach dip recipes?

[MikeLM]

Spinach dip is a BIG deli seller at the local upscale markets. One of the oldest is quite frank that they use the recipe on the Knorr soup mix package. (Vegetable, I think- check before you buy.)

Of course, that could be disinformation!

Actually, I have made the Knorr recipe several times, and I think it's quite close to the market's version. We like it a lot. When we drive to Pittsburgh to visit family, we usually pack a vat of the market's dip and some bread sticks with our on-the-road lunch. Sandwiches usually from the same deli.

Mike

[Suzanne]

Don't remember where I've read it, maybe one of Todd Wilbur's recipes, meant to copy a favorite chain restaurant recipe (TGIF?). So I don't know specific proportions, but I think it's about coarsely pureeing artichoke hearts, mixing with chopped spinach (frozen is fine for both), mixing with bechamel or maybe mayonnaise and grated Parmesan cheese, and baking the whole thing for a hot dip. Anyway, it sound good to me, 'coz those are 2 of my favorite vegetables.

[phatch]

I follow Suzanne's approach though I add some sour cream to the whole combo too. Parm on top to brown in the oven while you cook the flavors together. I'll see if I can find the recipe. I'm in the middle of a rebuild of my PC and my data hasn't been transferred back yet.

Phil

[oldschool1982]

This is not meant to seem like a correction to Suzanne yet from experience with the TGIF recipe.... It used to be a just a Bechemel base (like you mentioned) with quartered artichokes, chopped spinach that was squeezed dry and shredded parmesan and jack cheese added together. Just no mayo. About 5 years ago it became more similar to my recipe with a change to sauteeing red peppers with onion and garlic and adding cream cheese, parmesan, artichokes,half and half, spices and then the spinach.

Personally I didn't think either we all that bad for a "chain". I favored the second more because of the depth of flavors and because they took away the chips and went to toasted ciabatta Another reason I favored this style was it resembled my recipe and since I liked to offer crostini, toasted pita and/or bagel chips for dipping instead of the standard tortilla chip. in a nutshell theirs became close to the one I've been using for the last 14 years with a measurable degree of success:

butter
shallots
marjoram
jalapeno peppers
green onions
cream cheese
heavy cream
sour cream
artichoke hearts
roux (to tighten)
S&P to taste

In variations of this I have added shrimp, crab meat, chopped lobster meat and even blackened or plain grilled chicken. You can try any combination and additional seasoning/herbs such as tarragon, rosemary, clove, etc, etc.

[Suzanne]

Hey, I was working from memory of a book I proofed a year or so ago. It was actually one of the few recipes that looked good to me. If I remembered wrong, no problem.

[Jayme]

Originally Posted by MikeLM

Spinach dip is a BIG deli seller at the local upscale markets. One of the oldest is quite frank that they use the recipe on the Knorr soup mix package. (Vegetable, I think- check before you buy.)

Of course, that could be disinformation!

Mike

Mike- try the Leek soup mix- sour cream, powdered leek soup, frozen chopped spinich, chopped water chesnuts- quick and easy- let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before you serve.