Whipped Garlic and Feta Dip with Pickled Peppers and Fried Shallots (Go Taylor!)
Nibbles & Bites Issues #31: Super Bowl Special
There's a lot of anticipation for this year’s Super Bowl. Personally, I’m placing my bets on who Usher’s special guest is, and how many times the NFL cuts to Taylor dancing along to his performance. Fingers crossed he sings my all-time favorite Usher song, “My Boo”, which seems rather fitting given the love story that’s captivating the NFL this year. I’ve always loved the Super Bowl, and I’m particularly excited for this one even if the hype around it is excessive.
Speaking of the halftime show, if you want a good laugh, watch this clip where two friends predict the choreography and songs in Usher’s performance. It’s pretty spot on and hilarious. Anyways, back to more important things, like the snack situation for the game. Let me suggest some recipes from previous posts, and provide you with a new idea below!
Last year, I developed this awesome Whipped Blue Cheese Dip that I topped with buffalo dates and cauliflower. A little bit sweet and spicy, it’s bound to impress a crowd! I personally love something that is sprinkled with more than two garnishes and think it looks very beautiful on the table.
I also wrote this Deviled Eggs with Anchovies and Creamy Avocado recipe last spring that wasn’t necessarily intended for game day, but works quite well for it. These are truly some of the best deviled eggs I’ve ever eaten. Deviled egg filling can sometimes be a little chalky from overcooked egg yolks, but this filling is super creamy, thanks to the avocado and mayo, and has amazing flavor from herbs, bacon, and anchovies.
Last year, I also made Honey & Chili Crisp Glazed Wings that were so bangin’ I almost didn’t want to share the recipe. They’re perfectly sticky and glazed, and topped with Fly by Jing Chili Crisp (one of my favorite brands). This dish might be even more perfect for this year since the Lunar New Year falls on the same weekend as the Super Bowl. Why don’t you celebrate two occasions with one dish!
This year, I am challenging myself to find a home for some fresh vegetables on my Super Bowl spread. Every year, you might see wings, an assortment of creamy dips and chips, possibly some sliders, a pot of beef chili, a crock pot of grape-jelly glazed meatballs (you must know the ones!) or an entire sheet pan of pepperoni pizza, but I always long for something fresh, crunchy and crisp to round out and balance the meal.
That’s where my Crudité with Whipped Garlic & Feta Dip with Pickled Peppers and Fried Smoky Paprika Shallots comes in (what can I say, I certainly have a soft spot for whipped cheese). This dip is creamy and delightful, but benefits from a plentiful arrangement of fresh vegetables with contrasting colors and textures to provide your guests with options. I truly believe that veggies have a place at your Super Bowl spread and can play a great supporting role!
Whipped Garlic & Feta Dip with Pickled Peppers and Fried Shallots and Crudité
Ingredients:
1 each 6 oz block of feta
1 each 4 oz container of cup plain greek yogurt or sour cream
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ cup of olive oil
1 clove of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
2 tsp of rice vinegar
4 shallots, thinly sliced
1 ½ cup of vegetable oil
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ cup of pickled peppers, roughly chopped
2 tbsp of parsley, chopped
Fresh vegetables, cut to serve
Instructions for frying shallots:
Place thinly sliced shallots in a pan over medium heat. Cover with oil to submerge and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, using a fork to ensure they don’t stick together. Once the shallots begin to turn golden brown and the oil stops bubbling around the shallots, quickly remove from the pan and place on a paper towel lined plate. Season with salt and smoked paprika immediately and allow to cool.
Instructions for making the whipped feta dip:
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment, add the feta, sour cream, garlic powder, vinegar and chopped garlic and blend for about a minute until everything is well combined. Turn off the machine, scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Pulse the machine and slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Place in a serving dish.
Top the whipped feta dip with the chopped parsley, pickled peppers and smoky crispy shallots. Drizzle with olive oil. Serve with fresh vegetables on the side. Enjoy!
I hope you all enjoy this recipe! I’ll be sharing one more recipe (riff on pigs in a blanket!) tomorrow afternoon for the last minute shoppers, but truthfully, I couldn’t get around to making this one in advance since I’m a new puppy mom and getting up consistently at 5am to my super fuzzy ball of energy. Either way, I hope you enjoy all of these recipes for the Super Bowl (or any other festive occasion in the future).
Enjoy! Go Taylor! Until next time,
Kristen