What is it about a creamy, tangy dip that makes raw veggies so alluring to children? There are plenty of other crudité companions, hummus and baba ganoush being two of my personal favorites. My kiddos on the other hand, it’s all about the Ranch dressing and dill dip. I swear they could eat their weight in veggies as long as their beloved dairy-based dips are an accompaniment.
So what’s a gluten-free mom to do when she’s told her kiddos need to be dairy-free too? Obsess over finding an authentic substitute of course! 😉
The following is an adaptation of my original dill dip recipe and I’m quite pleased with the results. There is only a slight difference in texture from the dairy-full version, but my kids haven’t seemed to notice and even my dairy-eating friends enjoy this dip.
This recipe is Dairy-Free, Corn-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free and Soy-Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Soy-Free Vegenaise (or your favorite mayo)
- 2 tsp. Dried Parsley Flakes
- 1 Tbs. Fresh Minced Onion
- 1/4 tsp. - 1 tsp. Seasoned Salt* (see note below)
- 1 1/2 tsp. Dried Dill Weed (or 1 Tbs. fresh dill)
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight (to allow the flavors to develop).
- Serve with your favorite raw veggies.
Notes
Seasoned Salt Notes:
My seasoned salt of choice is Herbamare which you can buy at most natural food stores. Lawry's Seasoned Salt is also gluten-free but it does contain corn so that's no good for those of us with corn allergies. You can however, make your own "Lawry's" Seasoned Salt, just substitute the cornstarch for arrowroot or tapioca starch.
The original recipe calls for 1 tsp. of seasoned salt, but that was entirely too much in this adapted version (at least it was using Herbamare). I now only add 1/4 tsp. of the Herbamare and that suits my family perfectly. My recommendation, depending on the type of seasoned salt you use, is to start with 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. then add more as needed (after the dip has rested in the refrigerator for several hours, it tends to get saltier as time goes by).
If Ranch dressing is more to your child’s liking, definitely check out my Ranch Dressing Recipe (shhh, don’t tell anyone, but it’s Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Corn-Free, Nut-Free and Soy-Free too).
And yes, it’s true…my boys think everything tastes better on a light saber! 😀
And welcome to my blog!
Whether you're here looking for advice on how to go gluten free (with delicious kid-approved recipes of course!), or to read some of the latest medical research on celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity...or even to read about one woman's rise from the depths of gluten-free despair to a place of downright enthusiasm, it makes no matter. The point is, you are here now so let's have some fun!
Hello There Heidi~
Oh My!!!!!
I'm so thrilled to learn Veganaise has a soy-free version!!! My local Coop doesn't carry this yet and I've been using the good ole' grapeseed oil variety, which I love, but don't love the soy. I've emailed the company several times about the soy…apparently I am not alone.
Thanks Heidi!
Be Well,
–Amber
Chuckling over the light sabres … what a great idea for the boys (young or old)! Dill is not my favorite, but this dip looks creamy and delicious, Heidi. You rule when it comes to re-creating old favorites to be free of what we can no longer have!
xoxo,
Shirley
I love dill myself- will have to try this!!! Light sabers are too funny. I think my little Toddler Yum would like those too.. she's sneaked a few peeks at Star Wars while Daddy was watching and has become obsessed with robots and intrigued by the light sabers. We switched it off shortly after the light saber fighting started… but still.
Oh and I just love that I could have eaten this dip while on my everything-free diet. Yay!
-Sea
You are so smart! I bought a pack of those sabers in the summer for Callum's party. Of course they're nowhere to be found now! I SO should've saved some for his lunches. He'd LOVE that! And he too is a lover of white dips. For instance, he LOVES your ranch dip 🙂 I'll be making this one too. Thanks for obsessing for your boys and then sharing for our boys. miss you xo
Yummers. I've got to admit, I love that vegenaise stuff.