seven layer dip $9.71 recipe / $1.08 serving
Often times, I'm at complete mercy to my cravings. Last weekend I was craving seven layer dip like a junkie. I just had to have it. Since I wasn't planning on having a party any time soon, I had to figure out a way to turn this classic party food into every day food.I took a closer look at each of the seven layers and figured out what I could do to make them healthier or at least less snacky or junk food-like. So, here is what I did:
- I made the refried beans from scratch. Low salt, no fat, and WAY more flavor than the canned stuff.
- I roasted some fresh corn in the oven. This requires virtually no work and has so much juicy flavor that my mouth waters just thinking about it.
- Rather than buying a jar of supermarket salsa, I whipped up some fresh pico de gallo. Fresh pico is my new love... so much punchy, fresh, summer flavor! Plus, all it requires is some quick chopping.
- The grocery store didn't have any good avocados so I had to purchase some pre-made guacamole. I checked the ingredients because I'm convinced that a lot of pre-made guacs are nothing more than sour cream with green food coloring... this one was legit. It only had real, live, guac ingredients! Score.
- I chose light sour cream because I find it to be just as tasty as full fat. That being said, I'd never buy fat free sour cream because I find it disgusting. There is a very fine, but important line between the two.
- Lastly, I sprinkled on just a little cheese. I could have used reduced fat cheese here but I didn't feel like there was enough to warrant it.
I've been eating this dip with Mission tortilla strips because they're awesome and for some reason they're always much less expensive than actual tortilla chips. Go figure. You could also scoop this into a tortilla for a soft burrito or top some rice with it. And just like that, you have a great vegetarian meal where there was once a guilt-inducing super bowl snack.
Total Recipe cost: $9.71
Servings Per Recipe: 9
Cost per serving: $1.08
Prep time: 20 min. Cook time: 30. Total: 50 min.
| INGREDIENTS | COST | |
| 1/2 recipe | (not) refried beans | $1.35 |
| 2 ears | corn, roasted | $0.64 |
| 1 recipe | pico de gallo | $1.91 |
| 1 box (14 oz.) | guacamole | $3.68 |
| 8 oz. | light sour cream | $0.99 |
| 3/4 cup | shredded cheddar | $0.97 |
| 3 (1/3 bunch) | green onions | $0.17 |
| TOTAL | $9.71 | |
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the corn in the oven, directly on the rack, and without removing any of the husks. Let bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. When ready, peel back the husks, pull off the silk and use a knife to remove the kernels.
STEP 2: While the corn is in the oven, prepare the pico degallo by dicing the tomato and onion, and roughly chopping the cilantro. Combine all three in a bowl, sprinkle with salt (about 3/4 tsp) and then squeeze the juice of one lime over top. Stir everything well and let it marinate while the rest of the food is prepared.
STEP 3: Spread the beans (prepared ahead of time) in the bottom of an 8x8 glass dish or a dish of similar size. Layer the corn, pico degallo, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, and sliced green onions on top of the beans. Chill until ready to serve!
Be aware that the vegetables will continue to "juice" as it sits in the fridge so if you're leery of water seepage, this isn't something that you'll like to eat off of all week. If preparing this to eat in one sitting, like for a party, you should be okay.
Step By Step Photos
I had made the (not) refried beans earlier in the weekend. If you have the beans frozen, just allow them to thaw in the fridge and then stir in any liquid that has separated out.
The first thing I did was start roasting the corn, since it takes about 30-35 minutes. Seriously, this is the best corn you'll ever eat.
While the corn was roasting, I chopped up all of the other veggies (pico de gallo and green onion). I couldn't stop eating the pico... it's SO GOOD. Then, when the corn came out of the oven, I let it cool for about five minutes, pulled back the husks and sliced the kernels off.
Then I just layered everything in the dish in this order: beans, corn, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, green onions. I had pictures of every layer, but you don't really need that, do you? Just spread it all in there evenly. It will taste good no matter what! :D
12 comments:
having a party on Friday... I was gonna just make pico, but this looks like a nice treat! :D
Yum! I always crave seven layer dip, but I only eat during parties. I will give this a try, but I think instead of sour cream I will use Greek yogurt. It's a little bit more expensive, but still not too bad if I get it at Trader Joe's. Plus, it's just better for me and I can eat the yogurt with other things.
Growing up, my mom used to serve 7 layer dip all the time for a quick meal. Well, "deconstructed" 7 layer dip, I guess; my brothers and I each liked different layers, so my mom would put out all 7 layers in bowls and we would spread beans on a plate and make little individual servings of it that we scooped up with chips. It wasn't until much later I learned it was actually considered a party food and not an everyday food. Thanks for sparking some nostalgia in me; I'll definitely have to make this for dinner soon!
this looks soo yumm :)
This looks SO good!
Regarding the cost of black olives, if you have access to a Walgreens, you can sometimes get a 6oz. can of Lindsay olives for 99 cents with a coupon. I watch for the coupons, which appear in the ads/inserts about every month or so and stock up on both the black and the green olives. I just checked and my local Walgreens is running the olive special right now until 8/20. You can pick up a coupon in the store or print it out online.
Carol
This looks great! Your blog is by far my favorite! With that, two notes:
1. I know it sounds really weird but I like to sprinkle just a few mandain orange wedges (from the can) on top of my seven-layer dip. It is a great compliment. Don't knock it 'til you try it!
2. Trader Joe's makes a great Pico De Gallo - super fresh tasting, no preservatives. I use it when I don't feel like doing a bunch of chopping (which is most of the time)! I highly recommend it!
Sounds yummy! BTW, totally agree on the sour cream. I also stick with reduced-fat cream cheese and cottage cheese rather than fat-free. A little fat won't hurt and they just taste so much better!
This looks and sounds wonderful. Do you think I could make it in the crock pot?
I always get light sour cream, too. It tastes EXACTLY the same. Seriously, why go for the super fatty stuff? Anyways, now you've sparked my cravings for seven layer dip! I haven't had it in so long!
I've never heard of seven-layer dip before but it sounds amazing, will keep it in mind next time I've got a crowd to feed :)
I made this today and with the rest of the beans that I made from scratch will be making bean burritos with small flour tortillas, i may put some chorizo!
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