Alyse Whitney has never met a dip she didn’t like. Her inaugural cookbook, Big Dip Energy, available now, is equal parts love letter and road map to her “first favorite food.” The 88 dips will take you as far back as her mom’s Bunco parties (where she’d “steal” snacks) or just around the corner to one of her favorite Los Angeles bakeries.
The book is loaded with dips for snacking, of course, but you’ll also find a whole chapter on dip for dinner (and another one on “dipsserts,” which is exactly what you think it is). Some are very easy (think: five minutes and fewer than five ingredients), most are under 45 minutes, and nearly all provide a shortcut (or two).
“I’m very high-low as a person,” says Alyse. “And it just makes life easier to rely on something store-bought.” I chatted with the food columnist, TV host/judge, and self-described dip queen to learn about her favorite dip tips — like measuring black pepper in cranks (not teaspoons) — and the most surprising groceries she relies on to make dips happen. Here’s what she had to say.
What’s one grocery shortcut you use to make your favorite dip? Tell us about it in the comments below.
