4 Quick and Fun Canada Day Dips Kids Will Love

04/23/2017

Written by: Sous Vide Wizard

Can you believe Canada Day is just around the corner? It’s time to celebrate Canada’s national day with friends, family and food. On this day, Canada was formed under the British Empire, combining New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Canada into one dominion: Canada. If you’re attending or throwing a party this year, we have some great dip recipes that even the kids will love.

1. Strawberry, Blueberry and Apple Fruit Salsa

Sweet and delicious, this fruit salsa dip will please everyone at your get-together – even the kids.

The great thing about this salsa is that it’s on the healthier side (those berries are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants). And its bright colors are a feast for the eyes.

This salsa comes together in minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 pints blueberries
• 2 pints strawberries
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 apples
• Juice of one small lemon

Combine all of the ingredients into a large bowl, and pour the lemon juice over the fruit mixture to coat it well. Next, add the sugar, and stir well to combine.

The lemon juice will keep the apples from browning, and the sugar counteracts the lemon’s sour taste.

This delicious fruit salsa can be served with cinnamon tortilla chips, or you can just pile it onto your plate and go to town (we won’t judge).

2. Cheddar Bacon Ranch Dip

This fun dip has three things just about everyone loves: cheese, bacon and ranch dressing mix. Cheddar bacon ranch dip is always a hit at parties, so make sure you make enough to satisfy the crowd.

This recipe makes enough for 12 servings, so adjust accordingly.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 cups sour cream
• 16 oz. cream cheese
• 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 12 slices of bacon, cooked and diced
• 2 packets of ranch dressing mix
• 4 green onions

This dip comes together just as quickly as the fruit salsa. The only cooking involved is the bacon.

Fry the bacon, and place the slices on a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up the fat. Once cool enough to handle, dice the bacon, or crumble the slices.

While the bacon continues cooling, add your sour cream, cream cheese, green onions and ranch dressing mix to a bowl. Stir until all of the ingredients are well combined. Next, stir in the cheddar cheese and bacon crumbles.

We serve this dip with freshly sliced veggies, like carrots, celery and peppers, but pita chips also work great with this recipe.

3. Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Dip

If you’re looking for a healthy vegan option, this spinach and artichoke dip is a great option.

This dip takes a little more work, but it is well worth the effort.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 oz. tofu cream cheese
• 1 can artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/4 cup Vegenaise
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/4 cup water chestnuts, diced
• 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 2 tbsp. almond milk, unsweetened
• 1/2 tsp. paprika

Preheat the oven to 350F while you prepare the ingredients.

Note: We usually use our oven when making this dip, but we sometimes break out the sous vide cooker. The dip takes a little bit longer to make when cooking with a sous vide, but it comes out extra-creamy (always a good thing). Give it a try if you have one!

In a medium-sized skillet, cook the garlic and onion over medium heat for about ten minutes, or until the onions start to caramelize.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked onions and garlic, vegenaise, tofu cream cheese, water chestnuts, almond milk and nutritional yeast.

Add the spinach and stir just until the spinach is well combined.

Next, transfer the dip mixture to an oven-safe skillet (we like cast iron), and bake for 15 minutes until the edges start browning.

Sprinkle the paprika on top, and enjoy.

We like to serve this dip with fresh veggies, but chips work well here, too.

4. Healthy, Tasty Seven-Layer Dip

It’s hard to beat a good layered dip at a party. This dip is on the healthy side, and as a bonus, it’s vegetarian and naturally gluten-free.

Here’s what you’ll need for this super-easy dip:

• 2 can refried beans
• 2 cups of your favorite salsa
• 3 cups guacamole
• 2 cups sour cream or Greek yogurt
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 onion, diced
• Taco sauce to drizzle on top
• Green onions (for garnish)

Heat the refried beans, stirring constantly. You can heat over the stove, or in the microwave. If using the microwave, make sure to stir for about a minute for each 30 seconds of heating.

Next, you’ll layer the dip in the following order:

• Refried beans on the bottom
• Salsa
• Half the guacamole
• Cheddar cheese
• Tomatoes
• The remaining guacamole
• Sour cream
• Diced onion

Drizzle with your favorite taco sauce, and add some diced green onion on top for presentation (and an extra kick of flavor).

Do you have a go-to dip for Canada Day? Share in the comments!