Caramelized Onion Dip

Deep, rich caramelized onion flavor is what this dip is all about. Enjoy it with chips, crisp vegetable sticks, or crackers. Adaptation from Ina Garten.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Chill Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 30 mins

Course: Appetizer

Servings: -18 (3) tablespoon servings

Calories: 134kcal

Author: Terri @ that's some good cookin'

Ingredients

3 medium onions
3 tablespoons butter
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon granulated or powdered garlic
1/4 teaspoon teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

For the Onions

Cut onions in half lengthwise. Slice into about 1/8 - 1/4-inch slices. Be consistent; choose one or the other.
In a large, flat bottomed saute pan, over medium heat, heat the butter and olive oil. Add the onions and salt. Stir until the onions are well coated with the butter and olive oil.
Cook the onions for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to turn light brown.
Lower the heat to medium low. Continue to cook, stirring every few minutes until the onions are a dark golden brown, approximately 20-30 minutes. Do not let the onions burn! They will have reduced in volume by at least half. If they start to stick to the bottom of the pan, simply de-glaze the pan by pouring in a little water. This will loosen the onions. Allow the water to evaporate during the cooking process.
Remove the onions from the pan and allow them to cool.When cool enough to handle, put the onions on a chopping board and do a rough chop on them. This will make them a nice size for mixing into the dip.

For the Dip

In a large bowl, place the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. With an electric mixer, blend until smooth.
Add the granulated garlic, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and mix well. Add the prepared caramelized onions and mix well. Taste and correct the seasonings as desired.
Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve, at least 2-3 hours. Overnight is even better. For serving, put dip into a serving dish, sprinkle lightly with red pepper flakes for garnish, if desired.

Notes

"Lite" or low-fat cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise can be substituted for regular.
For a very nice tutorial on caramelized onions see Simply Recipes.

Nutrition