Are any store-bought dips actually worthy of your chip?
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.
The following are some of the best healthy dips we could find. Sure, we’d always prefer to make our own, but these are as close to homemade as you can get. Some we were even tempted to double dip (ssh, don’t tell!).
Looking for a chip for that dip this party season? Check out our taste test of the best supermarket crackers.
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. It’s a classic 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.
Sadly, most tzatzikis we found 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. With lima beans and no basil or Parmesan, it won’t please pesto purists, but it tastes amazing – and it’s 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. 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 – 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.”
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 everyone went 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.
We originally published this post in July 2016. We updated it in December 2016.
Have we missed your favourite healthy dip? Let us know in the comments below!
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