Three Holiday Dips
From vegan to gluten-free, these colourful dips will not only cater to those with special diet restrictions, but inspire everyone’s palate!
VEGAN ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH DIP
Makes 2 1/2 cups
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled
- 3 garlic cloves, skin on
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 3 sprigs fresh thyme)
- 1 tablespoon + 3 tablespoons MCT coconut oil, divided
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- Juice of 1 ½ lemons
- ¼ cup tahini
- Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop the seeds out of the butternut squash and dice into 1-inch pieces. Place diced squash and garlic cloves on baking sheet. Drizzle the squash mixture with 1 tablespoon of the MCT oil and sprinkle with thyme. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
- Roast until squash is tender, about 35-40 minutes. Allow squash and garlic to cool.
- Squeeze roasted garlic out of skins into food processor (or blender). Place roasted butternut squash into food processor, along with the remaining 3 tablespoons of MCT oil, chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, salt and pepper.
- Run the food processor on high until you have a smooth and rich dip. Scrape the sides down a couple times and add water if the dip is too thick. Taste and adjust the dip for seasoning. Place dip into a serving bowl and garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
CREAMY VEGAN CASHEW CHEESE & BEET DIP
Makes 1 ½ cups
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and rinsed
- 2 small-medium beets scrubbed
- 1 tablespoon light miso
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- Sea salt and black ground black pepper, to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2-4 tablespoons water
- Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons drained capers
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Tightly wrap beets in foil and roast the until tender, about 40 minutes. Allow beets to cool, rub or peel skin off and dice.
- In food processor (or high-powered blender), combine the diced beets, the rinsed and drained cashews, miso, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Blend on high, if the contents are not blending into a whipped cream cheese-like consistency, add water, one tablespoon at a time.
- Once you have a smooth consistency, transfer the cashew cheese spread to a container, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Garnish the cheese dip with chopped parsley and capers.
GLUTEN FREE & VEGETARIAN BLACK BEAN CHEDDAR DIP
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 large tins cooked black beans
- Pinch chipotle powder (or substitute chili powder), to taste
- 1 ½ cup salsa (medium or mild)
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- Corn tortilla chips
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Drain and mash black beans by hand or in food processor (or blender) set aside ¼ cup whole black beans for garnish.
- Add pinch of chipotle or chilli powder (you can add more for extra flavour). Add salsa, sour cream and ¾ cup of the grated cheese. Blend well.
- Pour mixture into medium sized baking dish. Cover with remaining cheese, top with whole black beans and bake for about 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve warm with corn tortilla chips.
Recipe by Jackie DeKnock, Owner of Gourmet Safari
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What is Shilajit? Shilajit is a sticky substance found in the rocks of the Himalayas. It develops over centuries from the slow decomposition of plants and is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is known for boosting energy, testosterone and preventing cognitive decline. What Are the Benefits of Taking Shilajit? Testosterone: Taking shilajit may improve testosterone levels in men. In one clinical study , half of the participants were given a placebo, and half were given a 250 milligram (mg) dose of purified shilajit twice a day. After 90 consecutive days, the study found that participants receiving purified shilajit had a significantly higher testosterone level compared to the placebo group. Fatigue: Naturally boosting your body’s mitochondrial function with shilajit supplements may help improve energy levels. Since shilajit is rich in fulvic acid, a strong antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, it may also protect against free radicals and cellular damage. As a result, regular use of shilajit may contribute to longevity, a slower aging process, and overall better health. Menopause: During menopause, many females can begin to lose bone mass, making bones weaker. Taking Shilajit supplements daily may help postmenopausal women with bone mass loss improve their bone mineral density. Prevent Cognitive Decline: The fulvic acid in shilajit contributes to cognitive health by preventing the accumulation of tau protein. Tau proteins are an important part of your nervous system, but a buildup can trigger brain cell damage. How To Use Shilajit Shilajit is available in powder, capsule and liquid forms. For powder use, simply add a 1/4 tsp to a glass of water or milk and consume, for liquid use, same thing just dissolve a small drop into your drink. For capsule use, take the capsules with food. Options in Our Store
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