Putting Lipton to Shame...

I was asked to bring a couple of appetizers to a holiday gathering.  While reviewing different recipes online, I came across this recipe... Pan-fried Onion Dip.

Growing up, I used to LOVE Lipton's Onion Dip.  I tasted numerous onion dips that did not come close all.  Lipton's Onion Dip was the absolute best.  If I saw it, it would be impossible to keep it away from me.  Yes, it was that addicting.  Eventually, I outgrew that phase... as I learned later in life that processed foods are.... bad.  I still could not forget that taste.  Let's take a look at the ingredients of Lipton's Onion Dip:

Dehydrated onions, salt, corn starch, onion powder, sugar, soy sauce, caramel color (sulfites), maltodextrin, dehydrated corn syrup, yeast extract, high oleic sunflower oil, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate.  Quite a mouthful here.  My first thought... sugar PLUS corn syrup!?!  Why add sugar and sweeteners that are not necessary?  Dear ol' America--- sugar, corn syrup, and sweeteners are constantly being sneaked in food.  Next, soy sauce... has fermented soybeans, wheat/gluten, and salt.  I cannot have soy but I think it's what gives it the brownish color.  Yeast extract is usually added to processed foods create a savory flavor but is it really needed?  I think not.  High oleic sunflower oil ... I am pretty sure a few years back, they used trans fat such as a partially hydrogenated vegetable oil but a ruling set forth by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all food manufacturers stop using trans fats in their food by the year 2018.  Kudos to Lipton for being early in their game by not using trans fat in 2016.  High oleic sunflower oil is typically used in processed foods... so is it safe/ good?  Generally speaking, processed foods should be avoided as much as possible.   Finally, the weird words: disodium guanylate and disodium insoninate.  Disodium guanylate is produced from dried seaweed and is usually added to processed foods to add "salty" flavor.  So is it okay?  According to my research... it's not safe for babies younger than 12 weeks, people with asthma, and people with gouts.  If it's not safe for certain populations, it's not safe in my book.  Disodium insoninate is also another common food additive to add the "salty" flavor.  It is produced from either bacterial fermentation of sugars or from animal sources.  Both additives are not recommended for vegetarians and vegans because of the potential animal sources.  You'd be surprised by how many vegetarians and vegans think they are eating animal-free products but it's difficult with processed food.  Carmine is a common food coloring (red) in yogurt that many vegetarians think they would be okay to eat. Think again. Carmine is actually derived from crushed shells from cochineal beetles.

I tried this recipe: http://www.blissfullydelicious.com/2011/02/pan-fried-onion-dip/.  While I am aware that sour cream, cream cheese, and mayonnaise do not make this a healthy recipe, it is however a safer and healthier alternative to Lipton's Onion Dip.  And my friend, Tabitha and I were pleasantly surprised by how much better it tasted!  I used less butter and oil to fry the onions.  I made my own mayonnaise.  I used light cream cheese.  And the best part- no sugar, no sweeteners, nor food additives were added!

I served this dip with crudités and crackers. The dip was quite a hit at the gathering.   Yum. I loved that I found something far better than Lipton.  If I am feeling nostalgic for a favorite childhood snack, I can simply make this one again.