One of my easy, go-to snacks is chips and dip. Some of my favorites include pimento cheese with celery sticks, chili crisp labneh (just labneh drizzled with chili crisp on top!) with tortilla chips, and hummus and pita chips, just to name a few. But my latest dip obsession is this charred scallion dip. It’s creamy, tangy and savory, and it’s perfect with salty potato chips.
How to Make Charred Scallion Dip
Just like any good classic dip, it starts with sour cream, which provides a rich and tart foundation. Then I add whipped cream cheese and kewpie mayonnaise, which add so much flavor. Whipped cream cheese makes the overall texture light and airy, while Kewpie mayonnaise makes the dip taste extra special. To be honest, mixing these three ingredients together is already delicious, but I take it up a notch by adding charred scallions.
Charred scallions are the star of the dip! Charring scallions enhances the sweetness of the scallions while adding that subtle smoky flavor. Those black caramelized spots on the scallions add so much depth and complexity when mixed into the dip base. Yes, I know 12 medium scallions sound like a lot, but when you char them, they soften and tenderize a lot, ensuring that the onion taste isn’t overpowering.
The dip also uses a bit of freshly chopped scallions, so the contrast of textures and flavors of charred and fresh scallions makes the dip even more delightful. Finishing with sharp yet sweet rice vinegar and savory onion powder adds a ranch-like nuance to the dip.
