Real Sour Cream Onion Dip

By Mark Bittman

Updated Nov. 25, 2024

Real Sour Cream Onion Dip
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
5(1,439)
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
  • ⅓cup neutral oil, like canola or grape seed
  • 1medium onion, minced, about ½ cup
  • Pinch salt
  • ¼teaspoon sugar
  • 1cup sour cream
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

191 calories; 20 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 4 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 37 milligrams sodium

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.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,439 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!

William Zars

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

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.

Deel

Love it! I've made this a few times for guests and always am asked for the recipe. I like even more onions so now use about 3/4 chopped plain-old yellow onions (2-3 medium onions) and 1/2 cup corn oil to go with the 1 cup sour cream. Use 3/16 tspn sugar and a few pinches of salt. It's not sweet. Plus, I like to add 1/8 tsp onion powder just for the fun of remembering the onion soup mix packets we used back in the day before any of my friends knew how to cook.

Becca

My guests demolished this dip at record speed. The 24hrs in the fridge is absolutely necessary to develop flavor. Topped w/ a boatload of chives. Will absolutely make this again.

Courtney

Not much to add that hasn’t been said already. Omitted the sugar and found it delicious after setting up in the fridge overnight. Topped with chopped chives. Would be an awesome addition to a baked potato…

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