Don't Serve Homemade Sour Cream Dip Without Doing This First

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Sour cream dip might be the easiest dip recipe out there. You stir spices and herbs directly into a sour cream container, et voilà — you've created sour cream dip! It comes together in a matter of seconds, but there's one crucial step to take before serving your homemade dip that really improves upon its flavor: It needs an overnight stay in the fridge before you serve it.

Resting the dip has the same effect as letting meat and fish sit in a marinade or cooking soups and stews the day before serving them. The hours-long stint in the fridge ensures all the spices, aromatics, and herbs infuse into the sour cream to the fullest extent. An overnight rest in the fridge also has textural benefits to your sour cream dip. Sour cream isn't the thickest, especially after it's been sitting out while you stir a bunch of spices into it. Some sour cream dips add even more liquid seasonings, further thinning its consistency. Refrigerating the dip firms it up nicely. If you're using dehydrated aromatics, such as onion flakes or freeze-dried garlic, a long rest rehydrates them, providing more textural depth. While a day's rest does your dip a world of good, it doesn't last very long in the fridge. Don't try to make it more than three days in advance since the longer it sits in the fridge, the bigger the risk of separation and spoilage.

There are many different recipes for sour cream dip that switch up the spice blends for a variety of different flavor profiles. The most basic sour cream dip comes together with the help of dried dill, parsley, garlic powder, and salt. If you don't have a fully stocked spice cabinet, spice packets really come in handy; for example, you can add a packet or two of Hidden Valley ranch seasoning. Serve it with crudités or alongside a batch of homemade Buffalo wings. If you're having a Southwestern-themed party, save yourself the trouble of making a seven-layer dip with a zesty sour cream dip made with a packet of McCormick taco seasoning and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve with the best tortilla chips or smother a batch of shredded chicken quesadillas.

Spice packets aren't the only prepared seasoning agents you can add to sour cream. When serving kettle chips and onion dip, use condiments such as Dijon mustard for a sweet-and-spicy complement. You can also use fresh, sautéed aromatics (instead of powdered) for a more caramelized flavor, or bring a burst of umami to sour cream dip with Worcestershire sauce and caramelized onions for a luxe caramelized onion dip. Lastly, try putting a cacio e pepe twist on sour cream dip with plenty of freshly cracked black pepper and Parmesan cheese, finishing it with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil.