May 3, 2011

Hot Artichoke Dip - For Cold Winter Evenings.

I am living in hope that the weather is going to get wintery here on The Farm.  I am trying to get the Weather Gods on my side in lots of different ways.  Last week was the great gum boot buy up.  This week I am going to devote my time to winter food.  So I have decided to share a recipe for one of my favourite and ridiculously easy dips.  This is great as a shared starter for a casual winter dinner party.

So easy, so yummy, so full of fat.

Now, a quick word of warning.  I made this up after tasting it at a friend's house and so the quantities are very approximate. I have made it many times though and it is a very forgiving recipe. My suggestion would be to taste it at the end and add more of anything you need.

Grab your food processer.  Add a cup of mayonnaise, a cup of sour cream (reduced fat sour cream is fine but reduced fat mayo makes the result a bit manky), half a cup of grated parmesan and some spring onions roughly chopped.  Drain a jar of artichoke hearts (I think the jar is about 300-400g or similar) and add them too.  Sprinkle in some salt and pepper.  Blitz it all together so the artichokes are broken down but still lumpy.

Pre Mixing

Place the whole lot in an oven proof dish and sprinkle more parmesan over the top and then some sweet paprika.

Pre Oven

Pop it in the oven and warm it up.  It can be kept warm in a low oven and pulled out just as your guests arrive so you look like an uber hostess who channels Nigella on a regular basis.  I serve this with roughly cut up bits of french stick.  I have resorted to triangles of normal bread toasted when french stick is not available.  It is very yummy and goes beautifully with red wine in front of the fire.

So - how about it Weather Gods?  Are you up for a cold front anytime soon?  Work with me here.

17 comments:

Tales of a Tai Tai said...

I've only had artichoke dip once and it was in New York at an amazing restaurant and it was quite possibly one of the BEST things I've ever eaten!! So thanks for the recipe, fabulous xx

A Farmer's Wife said...

Tai Tai - Mmmm - mine may not live up to expectations then! Enjoy though.

Tas said...

Oh, I have the recipe for this. Yum-bo. I tend to put it somewhere where I can't find it. Better for my hips and my cholesterol lol.

Amanda said...

Thanks for sharing this - one of the ladies I used to work with would make it for staff functions all the time but I never got the recipe off her. I think she put toasted Turkish bread with hers which was yummy too.

Anonymous said...

yum...i'm all over this...maybe for this weekend in fact. thank you!!

Semi Expat said...

Thank you for this absolutely DELICIOUS sounding recipe - am hungry for it already and I have only just had my breakfast! X

This Mid 30s Life said...

Yum that looks amazing. And so low fat too!!

Good luck with winter, I hope things get chilly for you soon. We are basking in glorious sunshine over here and crossing our fingers that it continues into summer. Please please please!!

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

You have such a lovely blog! I also LOVE your blog name..thats what made me click on over..I am your newest follower :)

Delighted Momma

Unknown said...

Sounds yum! Will have to give it a try for sure.

Gemma @ My Big Nutshell said...

Roger and copy that. Sounds bloody fantastic!

Cheers! said...

That sounds yummy!

Aakriti said...

Sounds really good..But I wonder if Artichokes are available in Delhi??:P...I 'm a big foodie and love to cook..AND WOWIE... u live in a farm..ur description is sooo cute, simple and honest and I simply love it.
Here's my blog: have a look weneva u find some time:)Visiting from the Fibro:)
http://aakritimalik.blogspot.com/2010/12/who-bakes-cake-on-their-own-birthday-i.html

Clarabel said...

Definitely going to have to try this, sounds scrummy!

Life In A Pink Fibro said...

Looks great - and so easy!

Thanks for Rewinding at the Fibro.

Anonymous said...

Ah Farmers Wife, I'm a Perth girl and believe me, I know what you mean about this summer - when is it going to end... Got burnt today at Hockey Carnival (isn't that the winter sport?).

Fingers crossed for rain soon.

Happy Mothers Day tomorrow

Sheri said...

I found your blog on FF's and have spent the last two hours of my sick day off pouring over your posts! City girl here, but Mr. is an ex country boy now city firey, and he has always gone on about this amazing artichoke dip he tasted somewhere once. THANK YOU!

A Farmer's Wife said...

Thanks Sheri - good luck with the dip and I hope you feel better soon!