Onion Dip
This vegetarian builds instant vegetable bouillon cube, sour cream and mayonnaise into a crowd-pleasing meal you can have ready in about 60 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Heat the vegetable oil in a small frying pan over medium-low heat, add the diced onion and cook gently for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until deeply golden and caramelised.
- Crumble the bouillon cube into the water to dissolve, then stir it into the onions and let it bubble for a minute until the pan is almost dry; remove from the heat and cool completely.
- In a bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, onion powder and garlic powder until smooth.
- Fold the cooled caramelised onions through the sour cream base, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or ideally overnight, to let the flavours meld and the dip thicken.
- Stir well before serving, scatter over the snipped chives and serve cold with crisps or raw vegetables.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Sour Cream
- plain Greek yogurt · crème fraîche
Tips & common questions
How long does Onion Dip take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of sour cream?
Try plain Greek yogurt. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Onion Dip vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
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Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Onion Dip is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Kiwi Dip.jpg by Omelette flip, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.