French onion dip or California dipCulinary Herbs and Spices of the World - Ben-Erik van Wyk. p. 36. is an American dip typically made with a base of sour cream and flavored with minced onion, and usually served with potato chips as chips and dip. It is also served with snack crackers and crudités. It is not French cuisine; it is called "French" because it is made with dehydrated French onion soup mix.
History French onion dip, made of sour cream and instant onion soup, was created by an unknown cook in Los Angeles in 1954. The recipe spread quickly and was printed in a local newspaper.Sherri Machlin, ed., American Food by the Decades, p. 136 The Lipton company promoted the recipe on the television show Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in 1955, and early on, it was known as "Lipton California Dip", but soon simply as "California Dip".Potato Chip Institute International, Potato Chipper, 14-15:passim "As you know, this dip is ordinarily called the Lipton California Dip." A Lipton advertising campaign promoted it on television and in supermarkets. The recipe was added to the Lipton instant onion soup package in 1958.Holly Ebel, "Thinking on the back side of the box", Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota), May 12, 2015
Around the same time, a similar recipe, but made with reduced cream, was created in New Zealand and became very popular.
The name "French onion dip" began to be used in the 1960s, and gradually replaced "California dip".
Preparation The original recipe consisted of sour cream and dehydrated onion soup mix.
There are now many mass-produced, pre-mixed versions, such as Ruffles French Onion Dip and Frito-Lay French Onion Dip.Hold That Hidden Salt!: Recipes for Delicious Alternatives to Processed, Salt-heavy Supermarket Favourites - Maureen Tilley. p. 54. Commercially prepared products include additional ingredients to thicken, stabilize, and preserve the mixture.
Home-made versions may use caramelized onions.
Serving French onion dip is often served at parties and as a "classic holiday party offering". It has also been described as "an American classic".
It may also be used on other foods, such as hamburgers,French Onion Dip Burgers . EveryDay magazine. sandwiches and tacos.
Variants Alternative bases include cream cheeseFix it quick comfort food cookbook - Publications International, Ltd. p. 16. and mayonnaise. Common flavorings are salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic, garlic powder, parsley, chives, Worcestershire sauce pepper sauce and others.
See also
Clam dip Kiwi onion dip List of dips
References
Further reading