Catfish Out of Water

I'm incredibly fond of making avocado dip. It's my absolute favorite thing this summer. I put it on everything from burritos and nachos to seafood and salads. Late at night I'll even just dip chips in it as a quick snack! There is truly nothing better. It's the best parts of hummus and guacamole mashed together in a mix that lasts incredibly long in the refrigerator without spoiling. It's truly one of those scenarios where the dish is greater than the sum of its parts.

• 

• 

What is Avocado Dip?

Avocado dip is pretty much a mix between hummus and guacamole. I first started making it in June when I had been thinking about making guacamole. However, guacamole has a very specific Mexican food flavor. And, as much as I adore Mexican food? I oftentimes make dishes that blur the lines between several different dishes as it is. So, trying to mash guacamole up with other flavor profiles? Didn't always work. Plus, guacamole tends to go bad and turn brown rather quickly. Much like... almost everything with an avocado in it!

So. I'd been kind of wracking my brain thinking of something to do with avocados that is similar to, but not exactly guacamole.

I oftentimes substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream. I do this for pretty much the same reason! Where I want something that works with various arays of spices. Greek yogurt also tends to be a bit healthier and is a dairy product that I can eat every day without worrying too much about it aggravating my stomach.

And then it dawned on me... Hummus!

So, insert tahini, garlic, and olive oil.

• 

• 

Tahini or Walnuts?

I started out making this recipe with tahini. After all, that's the main hummus ingredient inspiration. And, while I keep quite a bit of tahini on hand, I was starting to run out! Now, tahini isn't the most expensive ingredient. It's really just sesame peanut butter and you can usually find it in the health or ethnic food section of most large-scale grocery stores. Even my rural Wisconsin grocer has it and it's usually on sale.

However, going through as much tahini as I was wasn't exactly the most practical thing! Especially when I can buy walnuts for a fraction of the cost.

I'm a huge fan of walnuts. They have a slightly grittier consistency because they are not pulverized into peanut butter. Although you could just as easily use peanut butter (just look for a variety without added sugar). But I've grown very fond of the walnut version and have been making some variation of this recipe every week

• 

• 

What to Add for Toppings?

This recipe is incredibly easy to mix and match the ingredients with. I've been using both tahini and walnuts. Although any nut or peanut butter of choice would work. I also have been adding numerous peppers for a spicier version and even eggplant for a variation similar to baba ghanoush. The type of citrus doesn't matter that much, either. I've used lemons, limes, and a combination of the two.

Gallery

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

What to Make w/ Avocado & Greek Yogurt Dip

I use variations of this avocado dip anywhere where I would use guacamole, hummus, Greek yogurt, sour cream, tartar sauce, and salad dressing. Although that is quite a spread... the sky may actually be the limit here! I have not found many things where this dip doesn't enhance the flavor profile in some way.