Made with ripe avocados, cream cheese, shallots, garlic, chili powder, onion salt, lemon juice, and pickled jalapeño pepper slices, this dip has a depth of flavor that will keep your guests coming back for more. And the best part? It’s easy to make, too!
This creamy pistachio dip is perfect for any occasion, from a casual get-together with friends to a formal dinner party. And the best part? It’s sure to impress your guests with its unique combination of flavors and textures.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab some avocados, cream cheese, and pistachios, and get ready to create a dip that will be the hit of your next party!
Food for Thought
This pistachio dip is a creamy and savory delight that is perfect for any occasion. The cream cheese and ripe avocados provide a smooth and rich base that is perfectly complemented by the sharpness of shallots and garlic. The addition of pickled jalapeño pepper slices and chili powder give the dip a spicy kick that is balanced by the roasted, salted pistachios and the fresh flavor of chopped parsley. When combined, these ingredients create a dip that is both indulgent and satisfying, making it the perfect addition to any party spread or as a delicious snack for a night in.
How to Make Pistachio Dip
- Cut avocados in half. Remove the pit, and place into the food processor.
- Add the cream cheese to the food processor.
- Blend ingredients until creamy, smooth, and velvety.
- Add in spices, garlic, and shallots.
- Blend until fully incorporated.
- Pour mixture into a loaf pan.
- Refrigerate for 8 hours or until firm to touch.
- Place onto a serving tray.
- Top the outside of the dip with a mixture of parsley and pistachios.
- Serve the dip with tortilla chips, crackers, carrots, celery, or bread.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Avocados
Selecting the right avocados is key to making the perfect pistachio dip. For this recipe, it’s recommended to look for the dark, rough-skinned Hass variety of avocados. These avocados tend to be the creamiest and most flavorful. To check the ripeness of an avocado, give it a gentle squeeze. The avocado should be firm, but yield slightly to pressure. If it’s too hard, it’s not yet ripe, but if it’s too soft, it may be overripe and not suitable for this recipe.
Another way to check the ripeness of an avocado is to inspect the stem. If the stem is easy to remove and the flesh beneath is green, the avocado is ripe and ready to eat. If the stem is difficult to remove or the flesh beneath is brown, the avocado may be overripe.
Ingredients in Dip
Avocados: Use ripe avocados. To pick the perfect avocado, look for brown avocado skin as an indicator as to the ripeness of the avocado. Press lightly, but firmly into the outer skin using your thumb and index finger. If the fruit gives in and allows for an indent, it’s ripe. If it’s rock hard, the avocados will need several days to ripen. PRO TIP – To speed up the ripening process, I like to place a banana and the avocados in a brown paper bag and seal the bag. The avocados should be ready to use in a day or two.
Cream Cheese: I like to use full-fat cream cheese. I have not used low-fat cream cheese in this party dip. Cream cheese is dense, has a smooth texture, is creamy, and tangy. It is an ideal ingredient to use in a variety of savory dips like this one, sweet dips, spreads, fillings for sweet or savory pastries, or fillings in stuffed cream cheese chicken, cheesecake, and more. In this recipe, cream cheese adds richness, a tangy flavor, and helps balance out strong and spicy flavors.
Pistachios: Pistachios can be bought in a shell or without their shell. If buying the nut in the shell, be sure to use 10 ounces of the nuts without the shell. I like the roasted and salted nuts the best. I like to roughly chop the pistachios and parsley and mix them together. Use the pistachios to cover the outside of the dip.
Seasoning: This dip tastes very much like guacamole dip but it’s much more balanced in flavor thanks to the tanginess of the cream cheese. The texture is also much denser or heavier. In this recipe, I use shallots and onion powder for onion flavor. Garlic and lemon also add extraordinary flavor to this Mexican dip dish. In addition, chili powder, salt, parsley, and jalapenos add a special depth of flavor.
Serving Suggestions
While this delicious pistachio dip is perfect on its own with blue tortilla chips, there are also many other creative ways to serve it. For example, you could use it as a spread on sandwiches or wraps for an added burst of flavor. It can also be served as a topping for grilled chicken or fish, or even as a dressing for a hearty salad. Another fun way to enjoy this dip is by using it as a stuffing for cherry tomatoes or mini sweet peppers, creating a fun and colorful appetizer that’s sure to impress your guests. No matter how you choose to serve it, this pistachio dip is a versatile and tasty addition to any dish.
In summary, this creamy and savory pistachio dip recipe is a crowd-pleaser that is perfect for any occasion. With its rich and indulgent flavors, it’s sure to become a new favorite in your recipe collection. Don’t forget to use the tips provided to choose the perfect avocados for your dip, and get creative with how you choose to serve it.
Reader Tips and Questions
Q: I am sensitive to spicy foods, can I avoid using the pickled jalapeño pepper slices?
A: Of course! For this recipe I used 2/3’s of a jar of HOT pickled jalapeño pepper slices. There are a few people who do not enjoy spicy foods but even they appreciated how the flavors went together.
Q: Can I add more pickled jalapeño pepper slices?
A: The person who gave me this recipe said he prefers it with a whole jar of HOT pickled jalapeño pepper slices. Everyone will have their own preferences on this one.
Q: I do not own a food processor. Can I still make this dip?
A: If you do not have a food processor you might want to try a blender. I would chop the pistachios as fine as possible with a knife before putting them in a blender.
Q: Pistachios are quite expensive. Was this an expensive dip to make?
A: If you purchased the shelled pistachios that come in 6oz bags then you are probably spending about $15. All in we were able to pick up this party dip idea for $33.00
Q: What does pistachio flavor taste like?
A: Pistachio flavor is characterized by its distinct nutty, slightly sweet, and savory taste. It has a mild, buttery flavor with a hint of saltiness and a slightly creamy texture. It is often used as a flavoring in various dishes, desserts, and beverages, such as ice cream, cakes, and coffee. The flavor of pistachios is unique and difficult to compare to any other nut or food.
Other Dip Recipes You’ll Love
Creamy Pistachio Dip Recipe (Simple, Delicious, Party Dip)
Ingredients
- 5 avocados
- 16 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tbsp shallots minced
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp jarred jalapenos finely chopped
- 10 oz salted roasted pistachios chopped
- 2 tbsp parsley chopped
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap; set aside.
- Puree avocados and cream cheese in food processor until smooth.
- Add in shallots, garlic cloves, chili powder, onion powder, lemon juice, salt, and chopped jalapenos.
- Blend in food processor until fully mixed and incorporated.
- Pour into prepared loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
- Flip loaf pan upside down onto a serving platter.
- Cover the top and sides of molded dip with chopped pistachios and parsley.
- Serve dip with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetables.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate and it’s accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.
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