Guacamole
This quick recipe gives a lovely fresh result and the lemon stops it going brown.
1 large soft avocado
1 large tomato
½ small onion
1 clove of garlic
squeeze of lemon
Place the avocado, tomato and onion in a food processor and blend until smooth. Using a garlic press, crush the garlic into the mix as well as the lemon. Stir well and serve.
Salsa
This is a refreshing, rather than spicy, salsa. If you like yours hot, add fresh chopped chilli to taste.
2 large tomatoes
1 red onion
2 cloves of garlic
½ lime
5 stalks of coriander
Place the tomato, onion, garlic, coriander and chilli (if you’re using it) in a food processor and whiz until finely chopped. Squeeze the juice and stir in. You’re done!
Pea and mint
This fresh-tasting dip is particularly nice with carrots.
100g peas
1 clove of garlic
½ supermarket bunch of mint (or equivalent size of mint from your garden)
2 tbsp soya milk (sweetened or unsweetened)
2 tbsp olive oil
Boil the peas until tender. Drain and pour into a bowl with the soya milk, olive oil and garlic. Using a hand blender, stir until it has formed a lumpy puree. Take the leaves off the mint and chop them finely. Stir into the puree.
Hummus
OK, I admit it, I cheated on this one and bought it from a supermarket. Honestly, I’ve tried loads of times to make homemade hummus and it’s never as nice as the shop stuff (though do check the label to make sure it will be suitable for your guest). However, I’ll keep going and when I’m successful you know where I’ll post the details!
Creamy garlic dip
This is an absolutely delicious dip, though perhaps a little antisocial for those not also partaking. Don’t let that put you off though…
1 small tin of butterbeans
5 cloves of garlic
6 tbsp olive oil (no, really)
½ tsp salt
½ lemon
Drain the beans. Using a hand blender, blend the beans with the oil. Press the garlic into the mix with a garlic press. Then stir in the salt and lemon and serve.