Homemade Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip Plus How To: Roast Garlic & How To: Caramelize Onions
One big food blogger secret is that we rarely make recipes more than once. It’s true. And sad. It’s this constant race to provide new, fun, exciting, creative content for you that leaves us little time to revisit those recipes that we love. Of course, there are always those few recipes that we will make all the time, for the rest of our lives even if it means missing an opportunity to create a new post. This is one of those recipes for me. All I want to do now is make it all over again and add bacon and parmesean cheese.
So addictive, creamy and delicious.
It’s a simple recipe with only a few ingredients. It isn’t hard to make but it does take time to develop the flavors, time that is well worth it. I’m moving myself and my family away from process’s foods as much as I can, a little at a time and this is my way of having that onion dip that everyone’s mom used to make with the instant soup mix packet, but with loads more flavor and no mysterious chemicals.
Also, I’m going to show you the right way to cut an onion.
And how to roast garlic.
Two skills that I hope stick with you for the rest of your life. My kitchen would be a much different place without onions and roasted garlic.
Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip
1 whole white onion (I used a Walla Walla Sweet onion)
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 1 tbs, divided
1 large head of garlic
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
How to cut an onion:
Cut the onion in quarters.
With the tip of the knife close to the center, make vertical cuts all the across the onion, about 1/4 inch apart.
Then cut the onion in the other direction, cutting across the cuts you just made.
In a large pot or dutch oven, heat 1/4 cup olive oil. The key to caramelizing onions, and not BROWNING them, is: low and slow. Heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmery, then reduce the heat to low and add the onions and a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally until the onions are soft and have turned an amber color. You want them to have that amber color or the sugars in the onion haven’t been caramelized yet and the flavors are not developed. This will take between 30 and 40 minutes, but you only have to stir occasionally so it isn’t a lot of work.
How to roast garlic:
This is very easy and gives you the most incredible tasting stuff. If you haven’t roasted a head of garlic yet, you should.
Preheat the oven to 400.
Cut the top off of the head of garlic.
Place on a sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle with 1 tbs olive oil.
Fold the foil up over the garlic into a tight packet. Place in a baking dish (I use a muffin tin) and place in the oven.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes, or until garlic is soft and starting to turn an amber color.
Once you have brought out those incredible flavors in your garlic and your onions, break out the food processor.
Add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, onions and squeeze the garlic head until the soft cloves pop out and add them to the food processor as well.
Process until smooth and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
So simple, so good.
Next time, I’m gonna try it with bacon and Parmesan cheese. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Printable: Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Onion Dip
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Comments
Deanna March 2, 2012 um 11:23 am
Love caramelized onions and garlic. I always try to let my onions get really dark, but that normally requires more time than I want to give them.
Jackie March 2, 2012 um 11:32 am
I do too. I was just looking at the onion picture thinking they looked a little bit light in comparison to how I want them! I need to caramelize a pound every weekend, just so I have a bunch on hand.
cassie March 2, 2012 um 11:50 am
Oh my, I could live on this. LOVE it, Jackie! I rarely make things twice but I have a handful of recipes that we do have often!
Colleen Bierstine March 2, 2012 um 11:58 am
Haha, you weren’t kidding about having just talked about roasted garlic! This dip looks crazy good. Caramelized onions too? So much goodness in one dip!
Julie @ Table for Two March 2, 2012 um 12:03 pm
you know what? I was just thinking the same thing the other day. How I never create the same recipe twice because I’m always trying to do something else..weird but true. It kinda makes me sad though cause there have been recipes that i’m like OMG THIS IS SO GOOD but then I’ll never make it again cause I want to do something else. Hmph, this has got me thinking! Hehe…this garlic roasted onion dip sounds amazing. I would love to dip pita chips in that all day!
Jackie March 2, 2012 um 1:09 pm
It is sad! Sometimes, when people say, "I love your recipe, I make it all the time" I think, you probably know it better than I do!
Liz March 2, 2012 um 5:47 pm
I keep trying to explain to my hubby why I can’t make Nestles' Tollhouse cookies every single week…only another blogger understands! This dip looks fabulous~
Jackie March 3, 2012 um 9:44 am
So true! I have friends that request that I bring somethings from my blog to parties and I think "You’re so silly, I have to make something NEW!"
Valerie @ From Valerie’s Kitchen March 3, 2012 um 12:48 pm
I can so relate to this. I do have some dishes I do over and over again, mostly by request from my boys, but most weeks I’m adding in new things. Constantly experimenting to have something new and interesting to post. By the way, this dip is perfection!
Bree March 5, 2012 um 7:42 am
So true-I know I am always trying to come up with the next great thing. This definitely is a dip I am going to bookmark and am sure I will also want to make it over and over!
BigFatBaker March 8, 2012 um 8:54 pm
I love this! So simple and easy. I can see why you go back to to this one. Nothing better than roasted garlic in a creamy dip 🙂 Bookmarking to make over spring break!
amy @ fearless homemaker March 10, 2012 um 10:13 am
yum, this sounds amazing. will definitely have to give this a try!
[email protected] March 12, 2012 um 5:52 am
I heart everything roasted garlic! I would SCARF up this dip!
Deepti from belesaru.wordpress.com March 12, 2012 um 3:54 pm
Aww love anything with garlic! lovely presentation and simple recipe.. love it.
Erin Day March 12, 2012 um 5:57 pm
Question: (this looks amazing, btw), is that a crumpled paper bag holding the crackers/chips?? If so, that it so fabulous and a creative presentation! think I will copy you at my party this weekend!
Jackie March 12, 2012 um 6:39 pm
Haha! Yes. Super fancy. I just tore up a brown paper bag.
Maggie @ kitchie coo March 13, 2012 um 11:52 am
Oh, I am drooling like crazy over this post! I love roasted garlic and caramelized onions. I can see why this would be one to make over and over. Yummy yummy!! Great tutorials on cutting onions and roasting garlic too!
Abby January 25, 2013 um 7:35 pm
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate this recipe! I made the dip (several times) and loved it, but I also loved the easy method for roasting garlic. Thanks for a well-written post and an amazing recipe!
Jackie January 26, 2013 um 2:42 pm
Thank you! I love this dip, I’m so glad you did too 🙂