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Savory Almond Cilantro Dip

July 27, 2015 by Ginger Hultin MS RDN

When it comes to nourishing snacks, making a homemade dip with some nice fresh veggies or wholesome crackers is definitely one of my go-tos. Dips are great because you can pack in a lot of healthful ingredients into a smooth delicious snack. My Savory Almond Cilantro Dip is almond butter based (get the smooth kind; it will blend better!) so it lends a natural sweetness to the savory ingredients like fresh cilantro, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powder. This dip is perfect with crackers or fresh veggie sticks making it a delicious and nourishing snack.

About the Savory Almond Cilantro Dip

There is always a lot of focus on weight loss and low calorie foods in the media – but what about when we want nutrient and calorie dense options? A lot of individuals need calorie dense foods – growing kids, people looking to fuel an intense workout, or patients with illnesses that cause unintended weight loss. This Savory Almond Cilantro Dip is perfect for kids, people looking to boost calories in a healthy way like patients going through cancer treatment, or athletes. This dip is a balanced snack with healthy fats and plant-based protein from the almond butter, and complex carbohydrates from the crackers.

About the Ingredients

Nutritional Yeast

A lot of folks have questions about nutritional yeast – it is just a deactivated yeast that has a cheesy/salty flavor. You can pick it up at a natural foods store and use it on popcorn, kale chips, salad dressings, pasta sauce or anything that needs some zesty flavor.

Nutritional yeast is a source of protein and can also be fortified with B-vitamins. Brands made specifically for vegetarians and vegans will have the highest B-vitamin content, with brands like Red Star containing 300% daily requirements of all B-vitamins in 1 tablespoon. Three tablespoons of nutritional yeast has 8g of protein, making it very easy to boost the protein content of your dishes. I use it in a lot of recipes as it can be used to give a cheesy flavor to vegan recipes.

Miso

Miso is a traditional Japanese fermented soybean paste. It brings a delicious, salty umami flavor to recipes. It is also possible to find soy free miso pastes made from grains or legumes, like chickpea miso. Miso can be found in plastic tubs in the refrigerated section in health food stores or Asian grocery stores. Large grocery stores like Whole Foods will usually carry miso next to the tofu in the refrigerated section. Miso has some plant-based protein, fiber, B-vitamins, and minerals like manganese and copper.

Savory Almond Cilantro Dip Health Benefits

Almond Butter

Almond butter is an excellent source of vitamin E, with just ¼ cup containing 100% of your daily recommended needs. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects our cells from damage from free radicals. Almonds have anticancer and heart protective effects that make it a very healthful food to include in your diet. Almond butter is also high in minerals including magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper and zinc. These minerals are important for immune support, keeping our nervous system healthy, and keeping our bones strong.

Cilantro

Cilantro is high in antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory. It is high in vitamins A and K, antioxidants that are important for immune support and fighting free radicals. Adding in fresh herbs to this dip gives it an extra boost of vitamins and nutrition, and of course a delicious fresh flavor. Cilantro has been associated with many health benefits including improved digestion, heart and brain health, and antibacterial and anticancer properties.

Making the Dip

This dip comes together in a snap – all you have to do is blend all the ingredients together and it’s ready! To make the process go even smoother, measure out all the ingredients and get everything ready before starting. Then place all of the ingredients including the almond butter, miso, herbs, lemon juice, water and seasoning into a food processor or blender and puree until very smooth, adding water as needed to reach desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning according to your preference.

Substitutions

This recipe calls for 1 small bunch of cilantro. If cilantro is not an herb you enjoy, you can substitute it with another fresh herb like parsley. It will still have the same great taste. You can also substitute the almond butter for something like sunflower butter or tahini if you are allergic to nuts. If you want to change up the flavors, any nut butter will work – peanut butter, walnut butter, the flavor combinations are endless!

How to Enjoy This Savory Almond Cilantro Dip

The Savory Almond Cilantro Dip is a versatile recipe that can be enjoyed as a dip or thinned out and used as a sauce over your favorite pasta dishes or drizzled over a power bowl with whole grains and vegetables. It could also be used as a spread on your favorite bread or in a sandwich or wrap. As a dip it pairs really well with crackers and raw veggies like carrots, bell peppers, and celery sticks.

Let me know how you like the recipe – the Savory Almond Cilantro Dip is a naturally gluten-free, vegan, high fiber, high protein snack that I hope you will love! This simple dip takes about 5 minutes to whip up and saves well for the next day, too. Looking for some other dip recipes? Try Kalamata Olive and Basil Tapenade Dip, Easy Vegan Herb Dip, and Vegan Black Eyed Pea Dip With Avocado. Enjoy!

Savory Almond Cilantro Dip

Almond butter lends a natural sweetness blended with savory onion and garlic powder, cheesy nutritional yeast and zesty cilantro for a unique dip or spread for crackers or veggies.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, dip
Cuisine: Americana
Keyword: party dip, simple dip, snack dip
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories:
Author: Ginger Hultin

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond butter
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 teaspoons light/white miso
  • 1 teaspoon fresh dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 small bunch cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup room temperature water divided

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender and puree until very smooth, adding water 1-2 tablespoons at a time as needed to make desired consistency.
  • Serve thick as a dip or thin out with water to use over your favorite whole-grain pasta or as sauce on a savory dish. This dip goes well with crackers or veggies and is appropriate for kids and adults alike!
Tried this recipe?Mention @champagnenutrition

3 Comments

  1. Melanie on March 15, 2021 at 8:47 am

    This is a really yummy snack – thanks for the great recipe!

  2. Zoe A Sandoval on February 2, 2022 at 2:53 pm

    Hi, I have a question. How long does the dip stay good in the refrigerator? Thanks for the recipe, normally I do a sprouted almond cilantro dip and I’ve never tried mixing all these ingredients. Excited!

    • Ginger Hultin on February 2, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      Oh love it! I hope this one works well for you, too. It will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. You just may need to give it a stir.

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Ginger Hultin,MS, RD, CSO

An award-winning, nationally recognized nutrition expert and media spokesperson.

Thanks for visiting! If you’re like me: obsessed with eating, wine, going out and traveling, you’re in the right place. Champagne Nutrition® LLC is a Registered Dietitian-run concierge virtual practice helping clients look and feel better. On this blog, you’ll find cocktails, mocktails, and plant-based recipes that are easy to make quickly at home and pack for leftovers on your adventures.

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