Last week we heard some requests for "appetizers without cheese". Yes, it is just about the easiest thing in the world to slap some goat cheese on a cracker and put an olive on top. Cheese makes appetizers easy. But let's move on, shall we? There is a wide world of spreads and dips beyond soft cheese and yogurt; here are 10 favorites that go big on flavor without any cheese.
There are some old favorites here, but we've given them each a twist — extra-spicy hummus, grilled guac — and some others you may not have thought of. Many of these, like the bean dips, can be used just like cheese. Dollop a bit on a cracker and sprinkle crushed almonds on top. Or serve for dipping along with some chips.
10 CHEESE-LESS DIPS • 1 Roasted Jalapeño & Lime Hummus - A spicy twist on the usual hummus. • 2 Oven-Roasted Tomato Jam - Spread on crackers or tiny rye toasts. • 3 No-Guilt Bean Dip - Yummy bean dip, without the cheese! • 4 Grilled Guacamole - Smoky, full-bodied guacamole. • 5 Fresh Shell Bean and Sage Spread - A simple bean dip. • 6 D.I.Y. Baba Ghanoush - Baba ghanoush is creamy, smoky, and delicious. • 7 Kalamata Olive Tapenade with Shallots - Tangy and piquant. • 8 Roasted Mushrooms with Herbs - Scrumptious on toast! • 9 Gabriela's Salsa Huevona (Lazy Salsa) - A fresh and simple salsa. • 10 Savory Vegan Dip - It's very hard to describe just how luxurious this vegan dip is!
What's your favorite cheese-less appetizer or snack?
Related: 15 Essential Dips and Spreads for Summer Parties
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This white bean dip is nice, and easy peasy. It's got ground almonds in it, which lends it a creaminess without any dairy.
I like to make a lot of differently-spiced chickpea dips. I don't usually buy tahini, because it's so expensive! But you won't miss it, with these.
Or try this spicy spinach and cashew sauce. Again - creamy without the dairy, and very flavorful!
And I'm a huge fan of tartator sauces - creamy nut-based sauces. Here's one with pecans and whole-grain bread, and some herbs and spices.
Something quick and easy is to just mash up some black beans with salsa. Eat it with tortilla chips!
This crab dip loosely based on a recipe from saveur was so delicious, I can't wait to make it again! I also love these goat cheese and strawberry tapas that I had in San Sebastian.
Hooray! My dairy-eating friends get stuck in a cheese rut, I get stuck in a hummus rut, so these are great for everyone!
Thank God! I'm lactose intolerant so I can only handle a small amount of cheese at any one time which means I normally stay away from appetizers dishes! Whenever people come to my home, I always make hummus and cucumber/yogurt dip. Relatively healthy and delicious and for most of my friends, very different than what they usually have.