Spinach Dip with Water Chestnuts is not something I think of often enough. It used to be a staple in my world in the 70s and 80s – someone would always bring it to work picnics or to pot luck dinners when we were just figuring out our culinary trajectories, happily offering up the dishes that our parents would serve at cocktail parties. Trifle, anyone?
However, this time of year, when I’m scrambling to use all of the beautiful spinach from the garden, Spinach Dip with Water Chestnuts comes to mind. It makes me smile – so old-fashioned, but incredibly fresh and light. And delicious! Why am I always surprised at just how good it is when I take that first bite?
So maybe the next time you’re invited to a picnic, you’ll think of Spinach Dip with Water Chestnuts. And if you’re a sourdough bread baker, be sure to stash a couple of freshly baked Sourdough Baguettes into your bag to serve with this timeless classic.
Spinach Dip with Water Chestnuts
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 t onion powder
- 1 t garlic powder
- 1/2 t kosher salt
- 1/4 t black pepper
- 20 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 8-ounce can of water chestnuts
- 4-5 scallions
Instructions
- Prep the spinach; chop the veg – Plunge the spinach into briskly boiling salted water and cook for 2-3 minutes, until completely wilted. Remove from the heat and drain. Once the spinach is cool enough to handle, squeeze out as much water as possible, then give it a thorough chop. Trim and chop the scallions, reserving a handful of the green tops for garnish. Drain and chop the water chestnuts.
- Build the dip – Mix together sour cream, mayo, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Fold in the spinach, scallions, and water chestnuts.
- Allow to rest – Cover the bowl and stash it in the refrigerator to give the flavors a chance to meld – anywhere from an hour, up to 24 hours.
- Serve – Garnish with the reserved scallions and serve with thinly sliced sourdough baguettes or crackers.
INGREDIENT NOTES: I’m not sure why this dish tastes a bit sweet. The only thing in the list of ingredients that might be adding a sweet note would be the onion powder. Or perhaps the sour cream? But it’s the water chestnuts that make it – they add such a lovely crunch, a perfect counterpoint to the creamy spinach and almost smoky scallions.