Creamy Jalapeño Dip & Albariño

Day 8: 20 Days of Game Day Dips - An ultra creamy, silky smooth jalapeño dip that is the perfect companion to your favourite tortilla chips and a chilled glass of Albariño!

This one’s making the highlight reel FOR SURE! This jalapeño dip is smoooooth and creamy (almost fluffy) with the perfect hint of spice. It was one of my Top 10 Dips of 2024 and is the perfect addition to your game day festivities!

For the 40th episode of my viral Wine & Dip Series, I made the most ADIPTIVE dip of all time. This silky smooth creamy jalapeño dip is out of this world. You can adjust the heat however you want by totally removing the seeds, leaving some in, or leaving them all in for some serious heat!

Wine Pairing

Pair this beauty with an Albariño from Rias Baixas, Spain. If you have yet to try this style, you need to give it a go! A fruit-forward, light-to-medium bodied, dry white wine style with beautiful flavours of lemon, crisp pear, white peach, and subtle salinity.

Why does the pairing work?

The high acidity from this wine style contrasts the mouth-coating creaminess of the dip, and the vibrant fruit flavours of the wine balance out the savoury herbal flavours from the dip. This dip (made with the jalapeno seeds removed) ends up being on the milder side with only a the little kick of spice, which works wonderfully with the medium alcohol and refreshing characteristics of this wine style.

Like it spicier? If you plan to include more of the seeds when making this, you might want to try an off-dry (or slightly sweet) wine style, like an off-dry riesling, pinot gris, or Vouvray. Look for one with an ABV (alcohol by volume) under 13.5%, since alcohol can REALLY amp up the spice!

My Recommendations

I recommend the Viña Costeira Meu Albariño - a beautiful example of this wine style that’s bursting with zesty citrus, crisp green apple, and a hint of salinity that reminds you of an ocean breeze. It’s super refreshing, with bright acidity and a beautifully smooth, creamy finish. If you can’t find this one where you are, the Santiago Ruiz Albarino is another one of my favourites!

Pairing Alternatives

If you’re looking for another wine that’s going to give you a similar pairing experience, try a Soave, Assyrtiko, Dry Riesling, or Vinho Verde. If you’re looking for a different style of wine pairing, a fruit-forward sparkling wine (like a Riesling Sekt or and extra dry Prosecco) or a Rosé from Tavel or Provence would be great options! If wine isn’t your thing, you could also pair it with a Corona with lime, Spicy or classic Margarita, sparkling jalapeño limeade, or a Corona Sunbrew!

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Creamy Jalapeño Dip

Tools

• High-speed blender

Ingredients

• 2 large jalapeños, cut lengthwise (see notes for spice adjustments)

• 3-4 garlic cloves, peeled

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 cup high fat plain Greek-style yogurt (I used 11% M.F.)

• 1/2 cup cream cheese

• 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 lime, juiced

• 3-4 slices pickled jalapenos

• 1 tbsp pickled jalapeño brine

• 1/2 tsp white pepper

• 1/4 tsp onion powder

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• Sea salt to taste

Directions

1. Start by roasting the jalapeños and garlic. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).Slice jalapeños in half vertically and place them on a baking sheet cut side down along with peeled garlic cloves. Coat with olive oil, season with salt, and roast for 20 minutes.

2. Add roasted garlic and jalapeños to a high-speed blender along with all other ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy.

3. Pour the dip into your serving dish, top with more sea salt, pepper, and a few jalapeño slices. Serve with salted tortilla chips and enjoy!

Notes & Stuff

Hot Tips

• For a spicier dip, keep all of the seeds in the jalapeños. For a medium spice level, remove half of the seeds, and for a mild dip remove all the seeds.

• Heat it up in the oven, on the stove, or in the microwave in short bursts for a hot version of this dip!

Substitutions

• Greek yogurt: You can replace this with sour cream (I recommend at least 14% MF if you can find it)

• Cottage Cheese: Replace with another 1/2 cup of cream cheese or with Mascarpone cheese.

• Mayonnaise: You can omit this and replace it with an equal amount of Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream (as long as they’re high fat).

• Pickled jalapenos and brine: You can just omit this from the recipe if you don’t have it handy, but add 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in it’s place.

Storage Notes

• Store any leftover dip in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

I would love to hear from you. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

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Like What You See?

We still have 12 epic game day dips to go!

Subscribe and check me out on Instagram to follow-along for the rest of the series! You can also find all 20 recipes in my new eBook ‘Here for the DIP!’ which is free for paid subscribers or available to purchase!

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