Best Dips and Accompaniments: Recipes and Tips

If you are hosting a party at home or having some friends round, then a buffet is the simplest way of serving your food. This allows people to help themselves to the food and leaves you free to socialize. If you want to serve a buffet, then you should include a selection of the best dips and accompaniments on your platter of food.

Another reason you may decide to serve dips and individual accompaniments is if you are having a casual family meal. An easy option is to serve a selection of dips and side dishes along with things to dip, such as breadsticks, crudites, tortilla chips, flatbreads, and salads.

We have come up with a selection of recipes, ideas, and tips for our favourite dips and accompaniments that you can serve as part of a casual meal or when you are hosting a buffet-style party.

Best Dips and Accompaniments: 8 Easy Dip Recipes

There are many delicious dips you can choose to make, each of which has different textures and flavours so you and your guests can try a little of each. Here are 8 easy dips recipes for you to try.

Hummus Recipe (Houmous)

Hummus, also known as houmus, is a chickpea-based dip of Middle Eastern origin. It is proof that some of the simplest dishes to make are also the most delicious. It is fantastic served with flatbreads or as a dip for crudités. Here is how to make a simple, delicious, and cheap hummus recipe.

Ingredients for Hummus/ Houmus

• 2 x 400g tins of chickpeas
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp tahini
• 2 crushed cloves of garlic
• Juice of half a lemon
• Paprika (optional)

How to Make Hummus

1. Drain the chickpeas and rinse in cold water.
2. Put the chickpeas in a food processor with the olive oil, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.
3. Blitz the ingredients until they have formed a smooth paste.
4. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with paprika if you wish. 

Spicy Tomato Dip Recipe

A spicy tomato dip is a delicious option that is easy to make in advance and keep it chilled until you are ready to serve. Here is an easy recipe for spicy tomato dip. 

Ingredients for Spicy Tomato Dip

• 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 2 chillies, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• A tsp of paprika
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• 3 tbsp tomato puree

How to Make Spicy Tomato Dip

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add the garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, and chilli powder and cook for 3-4 minutes.
3. Next, add the chopped onion and chilli and cook for a further 2 minutes.
4. Add the tinned tomatoes and tomato puree and cook for 10 minutes.
5. Blitz the mixture for a few seconds for a chunky dip or a little longer for a smooth dip using either a hand blender or a food processor. 
6. Transfer to a container and leave to cool. 
7. Cover and put in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Easy Guacamole Recipe: One of the Best Dips and Accompaniments

Guacamole is one of the simplest dips to make as it requires no cooking skill whatsoever. It is also a good way to make use of any ripe avocados you have in your refrigerator. These are packed with nutrients, meaning they are a fantastic ingredient to include in a healthy, balanced diet. Guacamole is delicious served as an accompaniment to salads, crudites, or tortilla chips. It is perfect for a snack or as an addition to a buffet table. This dip is also cheap to make and is suitable for vegetarians. Here is how to make guacamole. 

Ingredients for Guacamole

• 2 avocados
• 1 small red onion
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 crushed cloves of garlic
• Salt and black pepper

How to Make Guacamole

1. Remove the stones and skin from the avocados and roughly chop’
2. Finely chop the red onion.
3. Cut the lime in half and use a juicer to remove the juice,
4. Put the avocados in a bowl and squash with the back of a fork until you get the consistency you prefer.
5. Add the finely chopped red onion, the crushed garlic, and the lime juice.
6. Mix the ingredients together and add salt and black pepper to taste. 

Tips

• If you want a smoother consistency, use a blender to pulp the avocado flesh.
• Spice it up with a chopped chilli if you want a kick to your dip.

Raita Recipe

When it comes to Indian food accompaniments, a raita dip is one of the most popular of all. This is really simple to make at home, so you do not have to rely on ordering some from your local takeaway. Here is how to make tasty and refreshing raita.

Ingredients for Raita

• 250g plain yoghurt
• 1/4 cucumber
• A small handful of coriander, chopped
• A small handful of mint leaves. chopped
• I clove of garlic
• Juice of half a lime

How to Make Raita

1. Add the yoghurt to a bowl.
2. Chop the cucumber into small cubes and finely chop the garlic.
3. Finely chop the fresh coriander and mint leaves.
4. Add the cucumber, coriander, mint and garlic to the yoghurt.
5. Squeeze over the mixture the juice of half a lime.
6. Stir the mixture thoroughly and serve.

TIPS

• This is a delicious accompaniment to Saag aloo.
• Add some grated ginger or chopped chillies if you want a kick to the dip. 

Baba Ghanoush Recipe

Baba Ghanoush is a delicious dip of Middle Eastern origin with eggplant/ aubergine as its main ingredient. It is delicious served with flatbreads or crudités. This smoky flavoured dip is easy to make and inexpensive. Here is how to make baba ghanoush. 

Ingredients for Baba Ghanoush

• 3 aubergines (eggplants)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 crushed cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp tahini
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• Black pepper to taste

How to Make Baba Ganoush

1. Pierce the skins of three aubergines/ eggplants repeatedly using a fork.
2. Place the aubergines under the grill for around 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally. The skin should char and the flesh will feel soft. 
3. While the aubergines are grilling, use a pestle and mortar to make a paste with the crushed garlic, pepper, lemon juice, tahini, salt and 2 tbsp of the olive oil. 
4. Leave the aubergines to cool before cutting in half lengthways and scooping out the flesh. 
5. Put the aubergine flesh in a bowl and combine it with the paste you made in the pestle and mortar. 
6. Mix well before transferring to a serving bowl and finishing with the remaining olive oil and a sprinkle of parsley. 

Blue Cheese Dip Recipe

A tasty option is a blue cheese dip, and this is just one of the things you can make with blue cheese. It is an easy dip as it requires no cooking, and it is delicious served with crudités, a salad, or even chicken wings. Here is a quick and simple blue cheese dip recipe.

Ingredients for Blue Cheese Dip

• 2 oz/ 60 g of blue cheese
• 5 heaped tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 fl oz/ 30 ml single cream
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Black pepper

How to Make Blue Cheese Dip

1. Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, and single cream to a bowl and mix together to create a smooth and creamy mixture.
2. Crush the blue cheese using the back of a fork so that the cheese breaks into small pieces.
3. Add the blue cheese to the mixture and stir it in well.
4. Season the dip with black pepper and stir again.

Easy Salsa Recipe

Salsa is a fantastic accompaniment to serve alongside many other meals. The fresh flavours make it a great way of spicing up an otherwise bland meal or of adding contrast to richer foods. There are many different recipes and ways of making salsa as each person will add their own twist to suit their own tastes. The recipe I use is inspired by one devised by Delia Smith. Here is a quick and easy salsa recipe.

Ingredients for Salsa

• 4 large tomatoes
• 1 green chilli
• ½ medium red onion
• 1 lime
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro/ coriander leaf
• Salt and black pepper

How to Make Salsa

1. Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds and skin
2. Finely dice the tomato flesh.
3. Then, finely dice the red onion and chop the cilantro/ coriander.
4. Deseed and finely chop the chilli.
5. Remove the juice from the lime.
6. Add all the ingredients in a bowl and stir.
7. Season with salt and black pepper.

Mango Salsa

I love fruit but tend to use it as an ingredient rather than eating whole pieces of fruit. Mango is one of my favourites and I like to eat this in a mango salsa, which is a fruity, delicious, and zesty alternative to a traditional tomato salsa. It is an amazingly simple recipe as there is no cooking involved. Here is an easy recipe for mango salsa. 

Ingredients for Mango Salsa

• 2 mangos
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 red onion
• 1 chilli
• Juice of 1 lime
• A small handful of fresh cilantro (coriander leaf)
• Salt

How to Make Mango Salsa

1. Peel the mango and remove the stone before dicing into small pieces.
2. Finely chop the onion.
3. Deseed and finely chop the pepper and chilli.
4. Add the mango, onion, pepper, and chilli in a mixing bowl and stir together.
5. Pour over the lime juice and season with salt.
6. Tear the cilantro/ coriander and sprinkle into the salsa before giving a final stir.

Easy Bean Dip

This easy bean dip is a tasty but low-fat option to serve on a buffet or as a snack. It is surprisingly quick and simple to make and the result is delicious considering the lack of effort required to make this dip. Here is an easy recipe for bean dip. 

Ingredients for Bean Dip

• 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
• 1 x 400g tin of cannellini beans. 
• 4 heaped tablespoons plain yoghurt
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp ground cumin

How to Make Bean Dip

1. Put half the beans and chickpeas into a food processor with the yoghurt, lemon juice, cumin, and garlic.
2. Blitz into a smooth paste. 
3. Add the remaining beans and chickpeas along with the lemon zest.
4. Blitz only quickly to get a chunky bean dip. 
5. Serve with crudités, flatbreads, or other dipping ingredients. 

Best Dips and Accompaniments: Funky Red Cabbage Slaw

Although I make the regular slaw, my kids really love my funky red cabbage slaw as there is something fun about having such a colourful side dish on the plate. The bright colours make this one of the best dips and accompaniments. It is quick and simple to make and is a great way of getting the kids to eat a variety of vegetables. Here is a quick guide on how to make funky red cabbage slaw. It makes enough for approximately eight good-sized side dishes to accompany a meal.

Ingredients for Funky Red Cabbage Slaw

• 1/2 red cabbage grated or finely sliced
• 4 large carrots grated
• 1 red onion finely sliced
• 8 heaped tablespoons of mayonnaise
• 6 tablespoons of salad cream
• 100 ml double cream
• Salt and black pepper

How to Make Funky Red Cabbage Slaw

1. Grate the carrots and red cabbage and finely slice the red onion.
2. Add the grated and sliced vegetables to a large mixing bowl
3. Next, add the mayonnaise, salad cream, and double cream to the bowl.
4. Stir well until all the vegetables are coated.
5. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Tips

• Extra ingredients– you can add extra ingredients if you want a little variety. Try adding chopped apples, sultanas, or walnuts for a twist. 
• Spice it up– this is delicious as it is, but you can also spice up this dish. Adding a teaspoon of curry powder or smoked paprika are just two ways you can change the flavour of this accompaniment.
• Reduce the fat– it is easy to reduce the fat content of this side dish. Simply use low-fat mayonnaise and salad cream and omit the double cream from the recipe. 

Best Dips and Accompaniments: Ways to Transform Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is one of the most common accompaniments that people serve with their food. While it is possible to make this yourself at home, most people simply buy this sauce in a jar or squeezy bottle. Even if you buy the pre-made version, there are many ways that you can make this sauce more exciting and transform it to better suit the dish with which it is served. Its versatility makes this a fantastic ingredient to use to create some of the best dips and accompaniments. Here are 8 ways to transform mayonnaise:

10 Ways to Transform Mayonnaise

1. Mustard Mayonnaise- Just add a teaspoon of your preferred variety of mustard to the mayonnaise. This is delicious with ham or beef dishes. 
2. Garlic Mayonnaise -To add extra flavour to the mayonnaise, simply grate one clove of garlic and add. 
3. Chilli Mayonnaise– For those who like a little spice, try adding one chopped fresh chilli to the mayonnaise. Add a little less for a lightly spiced mayonnaise and more if you are a fan of spicy food. 
4. Sweet Chilli Mayonnaise– If you like a lot of flavours but a little less spice, add one teaspoon of sweet chilli sauce.
5. Curried Mayonnaise– Another way of adding extra flavour is to add half a teaspoon of curry powder to the mayonnaise. 
6. Lemon Mayonnaise– Lemon mayonnaise is delicious with seafood and chicken. Simply squeeze in a little lemon juice and stir. 
7. Horseradish Mayonnaise– As an accompaniment to a beef salad, spoon some horseradish into the mayonnaise to add both flavour and heat.
8. Seafood Sauce – Traditionally served with prawn cocktail but equally good with any seafood, it is easy to create your own seafood sauce using mayonnaise as a base. Just add tomato sauce, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. 
9. Smoky mayonnaise– Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika creates an unusual alternative. This is nice served with flatbreads for dipping.
10. Coronation Chicken– combine curried mayonnaise with cooked chicken and sultanas. 

Best Dips and Accompaniments: 5 Tasty Salads to Serve as Accompaniments on a Buffet

During the summer months, most people prefer to eat lighter meals than in the winter months.  Salad is the perfect option, and you can make this so much more than just a lettuce leaf and a slice of cucumber. Adding salads to your buffet table will add a splash of colour and a whole load of freshness. They are also the perfect pairing with a dip selection. You can get as creative as you like in the salad dishes you prepare, and here are 5 tasty salads to serve as accompaniments on a buffet.

Tricolour Salad

Salads can sometimes look boring, especially if they only consist of green items. A tricolour salad looks much more appetizing as it is colourful and looks appealing.  A tricolour salad traditionally contains three colours, usually red, green, and white. A traditional Italian version of this is sliced mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and basil. However, you can adapt this salad using your own ingredients sticking to the theme of red, white, and green.

Potato Salad

This a popular variation on a salad dish and can be made in many ways.  The basic of the salad is cold, chopped, boiled new potatoes that are bound in mayonnaise.  Other ingredients are then added. Popular choices for ingredients are onion, sweet corn, herbs, and pepper. Other people prefer to keep it simple by simply adding some chives or seasoning to the potatoes and mayonnaise.

Tuna Pasta Salad

This is another salad dish of which there are many variations.  Tuna pasta salad is one popular variation of a pasta salad dish and is made by adding tuna and sweet corn to cooled, cooked pasta.  While some people bind this combination in mayonnaise and add black pepper, others prefer to use a tomato-based sauce.  If you do not like sweet corn then this can be substituted with some chopped peppers or tomatoes, or a combination of both. An adaptation of tuna Nicoise is another way to make tuna pasta salad by combining pasta with tuna, olives, and hard-boiled eggs. 

Couscous Salad

This is a really simple and quick salad to make as well as being tasty.  Simply cook the couscous in accordance with the instructions then add chopped cherry tomatoes, sultanas, feta cheese cut into cubes and diced cucumber.  For a little extra taste to the salad add some freshly ground black pepper, some chopped spring onion or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Best Dips and Accompaniments: Waldorf Salad Recipe

The Waldorf salad was first created in 1893 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Originally, the salad contained apples, celery, and grapes bound in a mayonnaise dressing. Later, walnuts were added, and the grapes were replaced with raisins or sultanas. Here is how to make a simple and delicious Waldorf salad.

Ingredients for Waldorf Salad

• 2 apples, cored and chopped
• 2 sticks of celery, thinly sliced
• 1 cup of walnuts
• ¼ cup sultanas
• 6 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to Make Waldorf Salad

1. Core and chop the apples and slice the celery before adding them to a mixing bowl.
2. Chop the walnut halves and add these to the mixing bowl along with the sultanas.
3. Put the mayonnaise into the mixing bowl and stir to bind the ingredients together.
4. Add the lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
5. Stir well before transferring to a serving bowl for sharing, onto salad leaves in individual portions, or onto plates as an accompaniment.

For a twist, add blue cheese or curry to the Waldorf salad or switch the apples for pears.

Experimenting to Create the Best Dips and Accompaniments

As always, The Fruity Tart encourages people to get creative with these recipes for the best dips and accompaniments. Feel free to alter the measurements or to add extra ingredients to adapt them to their own tastes. Have some fun in the kitchen!