Real Sour Cream Onion Dip

By Mark Bittman

Updated November 24, 2024

  • Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
5(1,625)
Comments
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Why make this classic dip with dried onion soup mix when it's almost as easy, and far more delicious, to make it from scratch?

Featured in: THE MINIMALIST; The Appetite Waits For No Bird

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

  • ⅓ cup neutral oil, like canola or grape seed

  • 1 medium onion, minced, about ½ cup

  • Pinch salt

  • ¼ teaspoon sugar

  • 1 cup sour cream

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

4 grams carbs; 23 milligrams cholesterol; 191 calories; 9 grams monosaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 20 grams fat; 37 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 2 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place oil in an 8-inch skillet, and turn heat to medium-high. When it's hot, a minute or two later, add onion, salt and sugar. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until onion browns, about 10 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Pour onion and oil into a fine strainer; reserve oil in refrigerator for another use. Stir onion into sour cream. If time allows, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Serve with potato chips or raw vegetables.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,625 user ratings
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Comments

Barbara from Ottawa

I don't find yogurt a particularly flavorful substitute for sour cream in a dip. I purée cottage cheese with a bit of milk (you can choose the fat content of each), and it makes a dip with a lovely texture, a nice tang, more protein and less fat than sour cream. Truly yummy!

Kylie

I made a double recipe for a long weekend, and it got eaten so fast that everyone requested I make another batch. Used half sour cream, half Greek yogurt, and doubled the onions. So easy and absolutely delicious.

William Zars

This is great for low sodium diets. I triple it and use two parts yogurt to one sour cream.

SGG

Too sweet for my personal taste so I added malt vinegar and extra salt. Will try Allison Roman’s version next.

Beth

Double the onion, add some garlic,use the sugar, sub half the sour cream for cottage cheese . Fabulous

Eliza

So good for such simple ingredients and low effort! The onion oil is tasty too - I used it in a salad dressing.

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