Alton Brown Onion Dip Recipe

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I’m a snacker who loves dipping everything in ketchup, but my obsession changed after trying a delicious onion dip at a friend’s housewarming. She was kind enough to share that Alton Brown Onion Dip recipe was the secret behind her delightful dip.

I instantly wanted to give it a shot, so I looked for the recipe online first. To my surprise, it only required a handful of ingredients.

However, I was even more amazed to find out that this dip with such a rich, complex flavor was even simpler to make. Nonetheless, I tried this recipe by following the exact steps, which turned out great and instantly regretted having those canned ketchup and dips for all these years.

Alton Brown Onion Dip is creamy and packed with flavor. It’s deglazed with sherry vinegar and blended with a medley of spices, like garlic powder and pepper, creating a flavor profile so irresistible you’ll forget all about other dips.

So, let’s explore the details of this recipe to enjoy this homemade dip. You can also tweak this dip to suit your taste and preferences.

What's In The Post

Equipments Required

Saucepan: A saucepan will be required to saute and caramelize the onions. You can also use a Dutch oven in its place.
Sharp Knife: I use a sharp knife to slice the onions. However, you can also use a mandoline for the same.
Chopping Board: I always use a wooden board to cut or slice the onions. You can also use a plastic or a steel based chopping board as per your choice.
Large Bowl: A large bowl will help you toss the onions with sugar and baking soda.
Spatula: A wooden spoon or spatula comes handy to toss the onions.
Small Sized Bowl: I use a medium-sized bowl to make the creamy dressing.
Refrigerator: You will need a refrigerator to chill the dip before serving it alongside snacks or other main dishes.
Dip Bowl: You can serve the dip in a fancy dip bowl to enjoy.

Alton Brown Onion Dip Ingredients and Substitutions

Note: The ingredients used in this recipe will help you make 2 and a half cups of the dip. You can increase the quantities of the ingredients, if you wish to make more.

4 Large Yellow Onions, peeled (about 3 ½ Pounds): While this recipe calls for yellow onions, you can also use shallots or red onions as a substitute.
¼ Teaspoon Plus a Pinch Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt: I generally use coarse sea salt in this recipe.
1 Tablespoon Dark Brown Sugar: You can also use brown sugar in this recipe.
¼ Cup Olive Oil: If you are out of olive oil, canola oil or vegetable oil can be used as a substitute.
Sherry Vinegar (for deglazing): You can substitute red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar in the recipe for making a non-alcoholic version of the dip.
1 ½ Cups Sour Cream: This can easily be substituted by creme fraiche in this recipe.
¾ Cup Mayonnaise: I have also tried this recipe with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, and it tasted great too.
¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder: You can also use minced garlic as an alternative.
¼ Teaspoon Freshly Ground White Pepper: This can easily be replaced by black pepper or cayenne pepper in this recipe.

Preparation and Cooking Time

Preparation Time	Cooking Time	Resting time	Total Time
30 Minutes	30 Minutes	1 hour	2 Hours

How To Make Alton Brown Onion Dip At Home

Step 1

Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly slice the onions. Place the onions in a large sized bowl and sprinkle some baking soda.

Step 2

Then add brown sugar to the onions.

Step 3

Gently toss everything with the tongs. Now, cover the onions, and let them rest for 10 minutes.

Step 4

After 10 minutes, uncover the bowl and transfer the onions to a saucepan over high heat. Drizzle some olive oil and cook the onions until they turn brown. Then reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking for 15 minutes, making sure to stir in between.

Step 5

Meanwhile, add a few drops of sherry vinegar.

Step 6

Add some water and reduce the heat to low. Continue stirring the dip while scraping all the brown bits of onions stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Step 7

Meanwhile, in a medium-sized bowl, add mayonnaise and mix it with the sour cream.

Step 8

Then, add the cooled-down caramelized onion to the mayonnaise mixture and combine all the ingredients nicely.

Step 9

Now, add the garlic powder to the mixture.

Step 10

Lastly, season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 11

Your dip is ready to be served. You can enjoy it with your mains.

Expert Tips That I Recommend

The secret behind the dip’s sweet onion flavor is using nice caramelized onions. Therefore, instead of just sauteeing the onions until translucent, I make the extra effort of caramelizing them over low, medium heat.
I usually make onion dip one day prior. The more it rests, the more the flavors get time to blend in the onion dip. The caramelized flavor of onion blends in nicely with sour cream, which enhances the flavor of the dip the next day.
I grate some Parmesan cheese to get an umami flavor in my onion dip.
I also love adding fresh herbs to the dip to make it visually appealing. However, their freshness also enhances the flavors of the dip.
Seasoning is the key ingredient. Everyone has a different taste. So, make sure to season according to your liking.
I always slice the onions in equal thickness so that they caramelize evenly. If not cut evenly, some pieces might be burnt while others might remain undercooked.
Lastly, always make sure to use a heavy-bottomed vessel, such as a pan, Dutch oven, or pot, to caramelize the onions. This reduces the risk of burning and allows the onions to caramelize evenly.

FAQs About Alton Brown Onion Dip

Why did your Alton Brown Onion Dip turn watery after some time?

Your Alton Brown’s onion dip can turn watery if the ingredients are not measured properly or if you use onions with a high water content. It can also turn watery if you dip food items with too much water, like raw vegetables. You can fix the consistency by stirring the dip and refrigerating it for some time.

How to fix a runny onion dip?

You can fix a runny onion dip by adding extra mayonnaise. Also, make sure to adjust the seasoning accordingly.

Why did the cream in your onion dip split?

The cream in your onion dip can split when you mix the warm onions with the mayonnaise and sour cream. Make sure to let the onions cool down before mixing them with mayonnaise and sour cream.

Why is your onion dip tasting sour?

Your onion dip can taste sour if you have used old or expired mayonnaise or sour cream. Adding too much vinegar can also leave a sour taste. However, you can fix the sourness by adding a small amount of honey or extra mayonnaise.

How can you cut down a strong onion flavor in the dip?

Your dip can have a strong onion flavor if the onions are not cooked properly. However, this can be fixed by squeezing in some lemon juice or a splash of vinegar in the dip.

How can I prevent the onions from burning during the caramelization?

To prevent the onions from burning, stir them regularly on medium to low heat.

How do I make my onion dip spicier?

If you love spicy food, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to increase the spiciness of this dip.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

Ingredients like mayonnaise and sour cream lead to a high intake of calories and fat (mostly saturated) content in the Onion Dip. They also increase the sodium content. Therefore, I recommend having this dip in moderation.

I have also mentioned below the nutritional values of the ingredient used in this recipe for your reference.

Calories	294 kcal
Carbohydrates	4 g
Protein	1 g
Fat	31 g
Saturated Fat	8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	10 g
Monounsaturated Fat	10 g
Trans Fat	0.04 g
Cholesterol	34 mg
Sodium	1019 mg
Potassium	62 mg
Fiber	0.03 g
Sugar	3 g
Vitamin A	282 IU
Vitamin C	0.4 mg
Calcium	47 mg
Iron	0.1 mg

The ingredients used in this recipe are suitable for people who are following a keto and a gluten-free diet.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Vegan Diet: People following vegan diets can use eggless mayonnaise and blended cashews or tofu instead of sour cream in this onion dip. I have tried this combination, and it turned out just as amazing as the original.
Low-Sodium Diet: People who want to reduce the sodium intake in this dip can use creme fraiche instead of mayonnaise and sour cream as the base of this dip.

Storing This Recipe

In The Refrigerator: I transfer this dip in an airtight container to make it last up to 4 days.
In The Freezer: I usually make this dip in a large batch to enjoy for a longer time. So, I store the leftovers of the onion dip in an airtight container for it to be frozen. It can stay for up to 3 months when frozen.

Note: This dip cannot be reheated as it has mayonnaise as a base. Mayonnaise when heated will split and the dip will be spoiled.

What To Serve With This Recipe

I enjoy Alton Brown onion dip with almost everything. From packaged chips to homemade Sandwiches, Salads etc. However, you can serve this dip with Onion Rings, pita bread, Bagel Crisps, Fritters, and French Fries, or use it as a spread on burgers, wraps etc.

Printable Version

More Recipes That You Can Try

How To Make Best Chocolate Chip Cookies At Home — Alton Brown Choc Chip Cookies

Alton Brown Grilled Cheese — Alton Brown Choc Chip Cookies

Conclusion

Alton Brown’s Onion Dip has completely eliminated my ketchup addiction. I now never feel the urge to dip everything in ketchup because I always have this homemade goodness ready in my kitchen.

This onion dip is sure to become one of your favorite sauces, too. All you have to do is follow the recipe and tiny details to get it perfect. Also, don’t forget to share your experience making this dip in the comment section below.