No need to fumble in the kitchen with this one — this dip is ready in minutes and will make your pickle-loving friend cry tears of joy when they try it! Especially when you pour them a perfectly chilled glass of Sauvy B to go along with it. You're welcome in advance.
Pair this one with a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand! a dry, bright, aromatic white wine style known for its zesty acidity, vibrant tropical fruit flavours, and distinctive herbaceousness. As soon as you open a bottle of this stuff, you’ll be met with a nose full of intense aromas, like lime, grapefruit, gooseberry, passionfruit, pineapple, elderflower, and fresh-cut grass!
The tangy, herbaceous dill pickle dip matches the wine's tart citrus and herbal flavours, and the creamy texture of the dip is perfectly balanced by the wine's refreshing acidity! A classically perfect pairing that you need to try.
My Pick: Earthling Sauvignon Blanc
I highly recommend the stunning Earthling Sauvignon Blanc if you can find it! It’s a super crisp and refreshing white that’s all about vibrant citrus, juicy tropical fruit, and that classic New Zealand herbaceousness. If you’re into some of the more common classics (like Kim Crawford or Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc), you will absolutely LOVE this one!
If you can’t find this one, here are a few others I would recommend:
White Haven Sauvignon Blanc (affordable and widely available!)
Weingut Sattlerhof Sudsteiermark Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (this one is Austrian and SO GOOD)
Alternative Pairings
For wine styles similar to Sauvignon Blanc, go for a dry Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Vermentino, or Pecorino.
For different wine styles that would also pair well, try a crisp sparkling wine (like Prosecco or Cava) or a Provence Rosé.
If wine isn’t your thing, pair this one with a tropical Hazy IPA or Pale Ale, a Gin & Tonic with lime, or an iced green tea with lemon for a NA option!
Recipe: Dill Pickle Dip
Serves: 4-6
Time: 15 minutes
For the dip
1 cup full-fat (14-18% M.F.) sour cream
1 cup (8oz block) softened cream cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1-2 cups dill pickles, chopped (go for 2 cups if you like chunkier dip!)
2-3 tbsp dill pickle brine
3 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (reserve 1 tbsp for topping)
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Dash of hot sauce of choice (optional)
Salt to taste
For the panko topping
1 tbsp salted butter
1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp dill pickle seasoning
Optional Garnish
Three pickle slices
Fresh dill sprigs
Dippers
Spicy Dill Pickle Kettle Chips (top choice)
Alternatives: Dill & Sour Cream, Salt & Vinegar, or Honey Dijon Kettle Chips
Veggies
Crackers
Combine all ingredients for the dip in a medium-sized mixing bowl, then transfer to your dip dish of choice. If time allows, cover and refrigerate the dip for at least 1 hour, overnight if possible. (The longer it sits, the more flavourful it will be.)
Remove dip from the fridge 15-20 minutes before serving to let it warm up a bit (it will be a bit firm right out of the fridge because of the cream cheese).
While the dip is warming up, make the Panko topping:
Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat, then mix in the Panko breadcrumbs and dill pickle seasoning.
Stir continuously until the breadcrumbs turn a light-medium golden brown, then immediately remove them from the pan. NOTE: Even if you turn off the heat, they’ll continue to toast in the hot pan and can burn quickly.
Top the dip with Panko topping, followed by 3 pickle slices in the centre and some fresh dill sprigs.
Serve with dippers of choice, a nice chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, and ENJOY!
Substitutions
Sour cream: Replace with full-fat plain Greek yogurt (11% is best)
Pickles: Add more (or fewer) pickles if you want! You can also decide to chop them very small or leave bigger chunks.
Panko breadcrumbs: If you're strapped for time, you can just crush up some Spicy Dill Pickle Chips to sprinkle over top instead of the breadcrumbs!
Storage Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavour will continue to meld and improve as the dip sits in the fridge.
Made this last night 🤤🤤