Low Carb Dips

So many people still believe that low carb diets translate into huge portions of meat with a side of cheese. Fortunately, those of us who are familiar with the reality of controlled carb living understand that vegetables are a very important part of every meal. I love raw celery sticks, broccoli and cauliflower broken into florets, spears of cucumber and zucchini, and jicama chips. To keep things exciting, I sometimes enjoy a good dip. These dips are incredible, and the estimated net carbohydrates are included with each ingredient. This allows you to adjust the recipes to taste without recalculating the carb counts. Ingredients that have negligible amounts of carbohydrate are not estimated.

Grandma's Dip reminds me of home. My grandmother has been making this dip for decades, long before I was born. The salad seasoning that grandma uses is seasoned salt with marjoram, basil, celery seed and pepper. I use a salt substitute made of herbs and dried vegetables to cut the sodium content. Grandma uses dried chives to add a little flair. But I've found that the dip is still delicious without them.

Lazy Dip is my own creation. I am not a patient cook. One day, while searching through the refrigerator for something to liven up my celery, I stumbled upon a bottle of chipotle hot sauce. I use enough to make the sauce pink. If spicy foods are not your favorite, take heart. This dip is smoky and creamy. It has very little heat. I always make this dip right before eating, using only the amount of sour cream that I will eat during that snack. A few tablespoons is typically enough to finish my veggies. Be sure to check your hot sauce to verify the carb count. Some include sugar.

While Onion Dip is an old favorite, it is high in carbohydrates and salt. Fortunately, you can get the same taste with my substitution. I often make this dip without minced onion. Because the onion is a high-carb ingredient, this cuts the count significantly. I don't miss them.

For each dip, mix completely. Grandma's Dip and Onion Dip are even better after they've been chilled overnight.

Pair these dips with a veggie tray for your next potluck. The other attendees will never know that they have fewer carbs than purchased dips.

Grandma's Dip

1 cup sour cream (10 g)
1 cup mayo (6 g) (or yogurt (11 g), or more sour cream)
3 tsp parsley flakes
3 tsp salad seasoning
1.5 tsp dill
2 tsp onion powder
chives (if desired)

Lazy Dip

Sour cream (10 g per cup)
Chipotle hot sauce (1 g per teaspoon)

Onion Dip

1 carton sour cream (20 g)
2 T dried minced onion (7.2 g)
1 T beef boullion granules
1 T onion powder
pinch sucralose sweetener