Store-bought dips can be dangerous territory when you’re trying to eat healthy!
When we researched this article, we really struggled to find dips that were free from copious amounts of vegetable oil, weird preservatives and, of course, sugar.
Rest assured, this was no “lucky dip”! The following are some of the best healthy dips we could find. Sure, we’d always prefer to make our own veggie-packed versions where we can, but these are as close to homemade as you can get. Some we were even tempted to double dip (ssh, don’t tell!).
The best hummus: Pilpel Hummous 200g, $3.69.
There are plenty of crazy hummus varieties out there – from black sesame to beetroot. Pilpel’s recipe is just the good old-fashioned variety. With few ingredients and extra virgin olive oil, it’s our go-to.
Camilla, editor: “This is a fine example of what a good hummus should be. Sure, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but this is a classic, simple recipe that has a place on any spread. Plus, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, garlic-free and preservative-free – perfect for party goers with sensitivities!”
The best guacamole: Obela Guacamole Classic 220g, $5.50.
Guac in a packet? On face value, we were sceptical of this dip – but the 86 per cent avocado content won us over! Plus, it was one of the only supermarket guacamoles we could find that wasn’t full of vegetable oil.
Rachel, writer: “If you don’t have time/ingredients to make your own guac, this comes pretty close to the real deal. It’s SO creamy and, despite the lack of preservatives, stays really green! How do they do that?”
The best tzatziki: The Whole Food Kitchen Organic Tzatziki 200g, $6.50.
You would think that healthy tzatziki would be an easy find – it’s just yoghurt, cucumbers and garlic after all. Sadly, most brands were full of unspecified “thickeners”. This brand didn’t have any of those, which might explain its slightly thin texture. Still, the flavour was unbeatable!
Monica, social media intern: “Tzatziki on point. It’s cool and refreshing, and makes me feel like I’m at the poolside in Greece! This would be lovely with some sourdough bread to soak it up.”
The best pesto: Syndian Spinach Pesto with Sage & Walnuts 200g, $4.46.
While pestos were the worst offenders for added vegetable oil, the very small amount of rice bran oil in this pesto makes it one of the best options out there. With lima beans and no basil or Parmesan, it won’t please pesto purists, but it tastes amazing – and it’s fully vegan, too!
Lee, social media manager: “First snap of the chip and I got a massive roast chicken flavour! You know that stuffing you get in roast chicken? It gives off a very similar taste. Must be the sage.”
The best baba ganoush: Yalla Baba Ganoush 175g, $5.49.
Store-bought baba ganoush can either be smoked eggplant heaven… or a slimy, salty mess. Luckily, this was the former! The ingredients speak for themselves – 61 per cent eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic. We have a minor quibble over the sunflower oil, but it’s a pretty tiny amount.
Camilla: “Oh baba! Probably my favourite child in the dip family. And this one doesn’t fail to deliver. Smoky, eggplanty… can’t… stop… dipping…”
The best flavoured hummus: Coles Simply Less Spicy Pumpkin & Harissa Hommus Dip 200g, $2.00
While this dip uses more canola oil than we’d like (and we’re not loving the “fat-free” messaging either, Coles), it was one of the only supermarket-owned brands which didn’t have any weird, fake ingredients. It really comes through in the authentic pumpkiny flavour – we have to credit Coles for making an effort!
Lorna, head of content: “I like my dip with a bit of kick. I loved the pumpkin, coriander and cumin flavours. Not sure why they are making a fuss over it being low-fat though – they should advertise it’s sugar-free instead!”
The best olive tapenade: Pilpel Kalamata Olive Dip 200g, $5.10
We’ve saved the best for last! This simple kalamata dip was a dark horse, but by the end of the taste test, everyone had gone in for seconds. It’s 95 per cent olives, with absolutely NO vegetable oil or dodgy ingredients. Did we mention it’s absolutely delicious?
Rachel: “Kalamata olives can have a sharp flavour, but this dip is almost buttery. It’s so rich, umami and perfectly salted that it has to be naughty – but it’s not!”
This is not a sponsored post. We bought, tried and tested all these products right here in the IQS HQ and didn’t receive any incentives from any of the brands to review them in any particular light.
Have we missed your favourite healthy dip? Let us know in the comments below!
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