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Guacamole in Mexico to coriander chutney in India, there are several kinds of green spreads that accompany snacks across the world. With a few twists in the recipe, these dips amplify the dining experience, enhance the plating, and promise a burst of flavours in your mouth. If crafted to perfection, they are the star of the show, and people cannot help but ask for second servings.
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These green spreads are prepared with fresh herbs, leaves, and a few seasonings. While their recipes are simple, the task is to keep the proportion accurate. You have to strike a perfect balance between tangy and spicy notes. Try these green dips mentioned below.
Pesto (Italy)
Pesto is known for its fresh notes that come from basil, crunch from pine nuts, earthiness from garlic, and creaminess from olive oil and Parmesan. It's a sauce that is not a perfect pairing with a crunchy snack but can be used to toss pasta or spread over pizza base to make a new and tantalising variant. Most Italians enjoy it with red meat delicacies, boiled potatoes, and tomato-based snacks like bruschetta.
Ispanakhis pkhali (Georgia)
Boasting creamy consistency and granular texture, ispanakhis pkhali is a Georgian recipe. It is prepared using eggplant, cabbage, spinach, beetroot, and beans. It also contains a ground blend of onion, walnuts, herbs, garlic, and vinegar. It accompanies fresh bread, toast, sandwiches, and other such snacks. Some people top it with pomegranate seeds to infuse it with freshness and a slight crunch.
Dhaniya Chutney (India)
In India, there are two popular variants of green spreads - dhaniya chutney and pudina chutney. Mint leaves are not only fresh but have a distinct aroma compared to coriander leaves. A batch of mint chutney is usually served with Indian snacks and meals at restaurants. Your favourite Amritsari kulcha or hari mirch paratha looks incomplete without it. However, dhaniya chutney is the flavour partner of homemade snacks and chaat like papdi chaat, samosa, sabudana vada, dahi vada, mirchi vada. It is also spicier than mint spread.
Chimichurri (Argentina)
Chimichurri is the authentic green spread preparation in Argentina and Uruguay. Packed with refreshing notes of garlic, parsley, and oregano, it is the best dip that you can serve with grilled meat preparations. It has vinegar, red chillies, oil, and pepper that contribute to the creaminess and grainy texture. While the authentic recipe calls for adding fresh oregano, you can use the dry blend at home and store this spread for a couple of weeks in your refrigerator.
Guacamole (Mexico)
Guacamole is a Mexican spread that even Indians are obsessed with. Ripe avocados blended with garlic, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and lemon juice is a creamy dip that you can enjoy with steamed rice, stuffed parathas, sandwiches, rice bowls, and more. You can also add it on the side of a Lebanese platter. It is one of the few dips that infuse beautifully with spiced Indian snacks as it compliments fiery hot notes of chillies with the creaminess of avocados. If you have not made it at home yet, you must try the recipe now.
