If you are hosting a dinner party, or just treating yourself to a homemade meal, then why not make your own healthy and delicious dip to impress your friends... and yourself?
Arabs love their laban (aka zabadi or yoghurt). They eat it hot or cold, as a side dish or as the base of a hot dish such as shish barak. But whatever you call it and however you consume it, it is still an amazing ingredient for healthy and tasty dips, which make perfect sidekicks to any snack or main course, from nachos to salads to roast chicken.
Here, we are going to show you 4 ways to upgrade your laban dip with unexpected and tasty ingredients:
1. The vegetable dip:
Ingredients:
Parsley, green onions, dill, garlic, fresh basil leaves, oregano, laban, salt, pepper
Method:
After taking the amount you need from each ingredient, chop them very finely and mix them together with laban. Add some water to make the mix smoother, and then sprinkle the salt and pepper according you your taste. You can never go wrong with this classic dip!
2. The beetroot dip:
Ingredients:
Canned beetroot, cucumber, fresh mint leaves, garlic, laban, salt, pepper.
Method:
Chop the ingredients according to your liking (fine or chunky) then place them in a mixing bowl. Add laban, salt and pepper and chill the mix in the fridge until serving time. This dip goes very well with chips and is a healthier version than the commercial salsa dips. It’s a dip without guilt!
3. The sweet ginger dip
Ingredients:
Ground ginger, fresh ginger, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, honey, laban.
Method:
Not all laban dips are supposed to be savory! In this amazing party dip you will have to combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl and chill in the fridge overnight to make it more flavorful. Serve it with fresh fruits, cookies or as a frosting for homemade cakes!
4. The avocado dip
Ingredients:
Avocados, red onions, fresh coriander, chives, jalapeños (if you like them), lime juice, ground cumin, laban.
Method:
After deseeding the avocados, mix them well with the dry ingredients then add the laban, salt and pepper. This dip is an ideal choice after a gym session because it is rich with all the good fat and minerals your body needs. Spread it generously over grilled chicken or oven baked fish. It is also an amazing choice for a house party!