28 January 2009

French Dip (Not What You Were Expecting)

I love potato chips and it should be obvious from the previous post that I love dip.

This passion has its roots in the Saturday nights of my childhood when my mother and her younger sister would open a bag of chips and dip them into a blend of cream cheese, onions and ketchup while sipping Coca Cola. I still love all these flavors.

To my palate, onions and cream cheese are essential. Fresh onions are best, but minced work, too.

Four years ago, my husband and I discovered Brett's Olive-Flavored potato chips on a trip to France. We never found them in the U.S.

In fact, we can't find them in France anymore. We've searched in vain for them. But along the way, we've sampled tomato-and-garlic, rotisseri chicken, and red-pepper chips. (Once you get the craving for potato chips, nothing else will do.)

All very interesting but no match for olive. (A few years ago I tried to duplicate the flavor at home. In fact, I tried it twice. Nice try.)

I have yet to find dip in France, although it must be there somewhere. Last trip, I made my own.

French Dip

3/4 creme fraiche
1/3 cup boursin with garlic and herbs (or Alouette or similar brand)
1 scant tablespoon mayonnaise
2 heaping teaspoons minced or chopped onions
dash pepper

I think I like this better than the ketchup version.

Katie Z., this one's for you!

10 comments:

Judy said...

Yeah I'm first again.. This sounds divine and I am definitely making it this weekend. The chips sound wonderful. It's super bowl weekend so we don't have to be healthy right?

Mimi from French Kitchen said...

Right!

Thanks for being No. 1, Judy!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Because I can't eat raw onions, I'd actually caramelize the onions for this -- it wouldn't taste quite the same, but it would add a sweetness that would balance against some nice, salty chips. Yum.

Mimi from French Kitchen said...

I like that idea, Lydia. I have always like sweet and salty together. Again, you come up with some great ideas and tips.

Fiona said...

Potato crisps and dip are one of my passions. I have made many a dip over the years - usually with the cream cheese base and chopped onion. There are some nice yoghurt based dip recipes out there nowadays too.

I will have to try your French dip as well as the beer one in the previous post. Yum.

Martha said...

Great recipe for a dip. What good timing -- would be great Super Bowl food!

katiez said...

There is a reason you can't find dip in France - doesn't exist... Maybe I should start something....
Great recipe!

Mimi from French Kitchen said...

Fiona, you could make the second one with sour cream, if need be. Not sure what is available in NZ.

Martha, if you like football (even a little), Superbowl Sunday is a great time for snacking even for those of us who are trying to eat better in the new year. Well, that's my excuse...

I suspected as much, Katie!

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Boursin in a dip??? I think I could eat that stuff "straight up!" (I think I have!)
We used to make ours with the Lipton Onion soup mix and eat with chips or pretzels and beer.
Aaahhh...Lipton Onion soup mix...brings back pot roast memories!

Mimi from French Kitchen said...

Boursin is great with just about anything, Cyn!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...