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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Small Batch Shallot Dip

    Sep 25, 2020

    By Michelle Weiner

    You and your friends will love this Small Batch Shallot Dip. Golden-brown shallots are mixed together with rich sour cream and mayo to create a sweet and savory dip that’s perfect for small celebrations.
    No ratings yet
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Chill Time 1 hour
    Jump to Recipe Leave a Comment
    Close up of a glass jar full of dip with chives on top and chips on the side.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    You and your friends will love this Small Batch Shallot Dip. Golden-brown shallots are mixed together with rich sour cream and mayo to create a sweet and savory dip that’s perfect for small celebrations.

    Jump to:
    • Shallot dip vs. onion dip
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make small batch shallot dip
    • Helpful tips
    • Recipe

    Sweet and savory never tasted so good

    Just call me the queen of dips. Seriously, dips are my favorite food! I love to serve them at big and small parties, bring them over to a friend's place, or just snack on one at home.

    Unfortunately, leftover dip will often go to waste because there’s just so much of in one serving!

    Overhead view of shallot dip in a glass jar next to a plate of chips

    I promise that won’t be the case for this recipe. My Small Batch Shallot Dip makes just enough for a handful of people, plus it has the BEST flavor. It’ll be a miracle if you end up with leftovers!

    This perfectly balanced sweet and savory dip goes well with a platter of veggies, crackers, or kettle-cooked chips. If you want to go all out, make a batch of my spicy queso and zucchini bites for the ultimate finger-food platter.

    Shallot dip vs. onion dip

    French onion dip is such a classic and you can usually find it at most parties. It’s hard not to love a bowl full of caramelized onions, tangy sour cream, and rich cream cheese! While shallot dip can be quite similar to this classic, there are a few key differences in taste.

    When comparing the two, you’ll find that a dip made with shallots tastes lighter and sweeter. It can take on tangy flavors easily like sour cream and lemon juice. Onion dip can sometimes feel heavy and strong, whereas shallot dip is much more delicate. 

    Ingredients needed

    This is a great recipe to turn to when you don’t know what to do with the bag of shallots in your cupboard! The rest of the ingredients are super simple and are probably already in your kitchen:

    Chopped shallots, lemon, and chives on a cutting board. Sour cream, mayo, and seasonings on the side.

    Shallots

    This super versatile member of the onion family has a sweet and mild flavor. Shallots can be roasted and eaten on their own, pickled with other vegetables, or sliced and fried for a crunchy topping. They taste so good in this dip and pair perfectly with the tangy sour cream and mayo!

    Replace the shallots with a brown or yellow onion if that’s what you have at home. You’ll only need 1 medium-sized onion to replace the 3 shallots.

    Sour cream and mayonnaise

    This is where the dip gets its rich and creamy texture. You can skip the mayonnaise if you want and only use sour cream, or just make it mayo-based.

    Replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt if you want the dip to be a little lighter tasting. This will make it taste more tart, so just taste and season as you go to make sure all of the flavors end up well balanced.

    Close up of a glass jar full of white dip with chips on the side

    Soy sauce

    Soy sauce in a shallot dip? Yes! This secret ingredient gives the dip so much depth and actually helps to round out the sweetness of the shallots and sourness of the sour cream.

    Simply replace the soy sauce with tamari to turn this into a gluten-free recipe.

    How to make small batch shallot dip

    This 1-pan dip recipe can easily be made in a few steps and under 30 minutes. Here’s how to do it:

    Chopped golden brown shallots sauteing in a metal skillet

    Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat, then add in the shallots with the salt and pepper.

    Cook for about 12 minutes, stirring and deglazing the pan as needed.

    Finish by stirring in the garlic powder, then remove the shallots from the heat and let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

    Large white bowl full of mayo, sour cream, cooked shallots, and chives.

    Step 2: Add the shallots, sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, lemon juice, and soy sauce to a large bowl.

    A large white bowl full of dip

    Step 3: Stir everything together in the bowl.

    Cover with plastic wrap and let the dip chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight.

    Helpful tips

    There are only a handful of tips you should pay attention to before making this recipe. They’ll help you create a delectable and delicious dip every time.

    Use the right skillet

    I highly recommend sauteing the shallots in a small stainless skillet as opposed to non-stick. You actually want the shallots to stick to the pan as they brown. There is SO much flavor in those little brown bits!

    Glass jar full of dip next to a plate of chips and glasses of dark beer

    Deglaze as you go

    But what happens when those brown bits are stuck to the bottom of the pan? This is where deglazing comes in handy. Deglazing is when you pour a little water, white wine, veggie broth, or even apple cider vinegar into the pan to lift up the pieces that are stuck.

    Just pour and stir once or twice while they cook. The stuck pieces will lift, and the liquid will soak into the shallots.

    Plates with chips and dip, and glasses of beer on the side.

    Make it ahead of time

    Allow the dip to chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or even several days to achieve the absolute best flavor. Make it the night before a get-together, or up to 3 days ahead of time.

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.

    Time to Cook!

    Alright, friend! Make a batch and leave a comment below so I know what you think!

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    Recipe

    Close up of a glass jar full of dip with chives on top and chips on the side.

    Small Batch Shallot Dip

    You and your friends will love this Small Batch Shallot Dip. Golden-brown shallots are mixed together with rich sour cream and mayo to create a sweet and savory dip that’s perfect for small celebrations.
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    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cocktail party, happy hour, holiday
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Chill Time: 1 hour
    Makes: 4 servings

    Equipment

    small skillet
    Wooden Corner Spoon
    dry measuring cups and spoons

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ¾ cup chopped shallots, about 3 large
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
    • 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Heat olive oil over in a small skillet over medium heat.
    • Add shallot and salt and pepper and cook, medium heat stirring occasionally until shallots are browned about 12 minutes, deglazing the pan with water as needed.
    • Stir in garlic powder to the hot shallots. Allow too cool 5-10 minutes.
    • Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
    • Chill for at least 1 hour or overnight and enjoy with chips!
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!

    Notes

    • This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Watch the Video!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

    More about me →

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