Hot Artichoke and Goat Cheese Dip

Recipe by: Didi Emmons | from Vegetarian Planet

Cookstr

Course: Hors D'oeuvre

Total Time: Under 1 Hour

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: Moderate

Photo by Joseph De Leo

This is the delicious artichoke and mayo dip one often spots at cocktail parties, but with goat cheese in lieu of the sour cream. This dip is surprisingly good when made with low-fat or nonfat cream cheese and mayonnaise. The recipe will serve 12 partygoers.

Yield: Makes 3½ cups dip

INGREDIENTS

1 14-ounce can water-packed artichoke hearts, drained, or 10 ounces frozen artichoke hearts
1½ cups chopped onions
1 large garlic clove, minced
½ cup mayonnaise
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 ounces soft goat cheese
Crackers, bruschetta, or Homemade Tortilla chips (see Notes)

Directions

1. In a food processor, combine the artichoke hearts, onions, garlic, mayonnaise, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and goat cheese. Blend the ingredients, leaving some texture in the dip. Spoon the dip into a 7- or 8-inch casserole dish. (At this point you can refrigerate the dip, covered, for up to 2 days if you like.)

2. Preheat the oven to 350°.

3. Bake the dip, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until it is browned on top. Serve it hot with crackers, bruschetta, or chips.

Variation: Try using this dip as a tart filling. Spread the uncooked mixture about ¾ inch thick on a prebaked pie shell, then top with chopped olives and parsley. Bake the tart for 10 minutes at 350°, and serve it hot.

Notes

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Ever since I bought a large griddle I have been making these chips. I serve them with fresh salsa and sour cream. To feed 4 people as a snack, take 4 large (8-inch) flour tortillas. Stack them and cut them in half. Then cut each half into 3 wedges (there will be 24 chips), heat a large griddle or two large skillets over medium-high beat. Coat with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Lay the tortillas down on the griddle or pans, then salt them generously. Let the chips sit for 5 minutes, adjusting the beat to make sure the tortillas don’t burn. Once they are golden, remove them and let them dry on paper towels. Serve as soon as possible.