Summer means it’s time for skinny dippin’….no not that kind. I’m referring to the dishes you take to a picnic, a barbecue, or pull out for a snack at home.
It’s dip season. And that can mean heavy, thick, creamy dips (which can be delicious, but not ideal for swimsuit season), or fresh, vegetable-filled dips for a lighter alternative. Skinny dips. With the availability of fresh, local produce in farmer’s markets during the Summer, you can’t go wrong with the latter.
Dips can be a great way to get your veggies in for the day. Just be careful what you’re using for dipping so as not to explode your caloric intake.
One of my favorite Summer dips is one that my mother pulled from a local agriculture publication years and years ago.
Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper (I usually put more)
- 1 firm, ripe avocado, cubed
- 1 15-ounce can black-eyed peas
- 1 15-ounce can corn
- 2/3 cup thinly sliced onion (I use red)
- 1/3 to 2/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped
- Salt to taste
In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients together. I usually let it sit and marinate for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Serve with tortilla or veggie chips. Serves 15 to 18.
Per serving: 129 calories; 2.4 fat grams.
I have seen many alternatives and dips with this name, but this one in particular has always been a staple for Summer family get-togethers. You can have fun with this dip as well by adding your favorite veggies: bell peppers, cucumber, jalapenos, other types of beans, celery, etc. You can also add shredded cabbage and carrots and it becomes a coleslaw.
A few of my other go-to dips are:
Warm Feta Spread with homemade pita chips and cucumber slices.
Yogurt, Dill, and Walnut Dip with fresh veggies for dipping.
Hummus. There are hundreds of recipes online for this one – you can customize hummus for your own personal taste preference by adding almost anything you want. Here are just a few recipes.
Skinny dipping this way stays within the societal norms. The other way just makes for a great story 🙂
What are your favorite Summer dips? We’d love to see your recipes and possibly feature them on our sister site Shrinking Kitchen!
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