At its most basic, guacamole is made by mashing a ripe avocado in a mortar and pestle with a dash of sea salt until it turns into a thick paste. However, the recipe considered traditional these days will also include additional ingredients such as onions, tomatoes (which same consider not part of the traditional recipe), lime or lemon juice, cilantro, and a spicy component in the form of chile serrano, cayenne, or jalapeño peppers.
The consistency can be either smooth or chunky, depending on personal preference. It is typically served as a dip with tortilla chips or vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and celery, but it is also equally at home in salads, atop pizzas or pasta, and is used as a condiment in burritos, burgers, tacos, and omelets.
TIME
- Preparation time: 15 min
- Cooking time: 0 min
- Total time: 15 min
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Traditionally consumed for breakfast, this Levantine dish is also enjoyed as a dip or an appetizer, and is also included in mezze, an assortment of small dishes typically served before a multicourse meal. Furthermore, it is a part of other Middle Eastern dishes like falafel and sabich.
Hummus or hummus bi'tahina, at its basic, consists of chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and often cumin that are ground and served with a drizzle of olive oil on top and a sprinkling of spices like paprika and/or herbs like parsley.
A few whole chickpeas or pine nuts can also be added as decoration. Hummus ful, on the other hand, is almost identical to hummus bi'tahina, except that it is topped with a fava bean paste.
TIME
- Preparation time: 30 min
- Cooking time: 1 h 30 min
- Total time: 18 h 40 min
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Simple and refreshing, tzatziki is one of the most famous Greek appetizers (meze) which can also be used as a spread, a dip, or a side-dish. Its preparation is a no-brainer. First, fresh cucumbers are peeled, the seeds are removed, and the flesh is grated or chopped into very small pieces.
Grated cucumbers are then squeezed by hand or through a kitchen cloth. To help remove excess water, some recipes suggest salting the grated cucumbers and letting them stand for 15 minutes. Creamy Greek yogurt, usually made from sheep or goat’s milk, is mixed with olive oil, minced garlic, a dash of vinegar or lemon juice, and fresh herbs — usually dill — and joined with grated and drained cucumber.
TIME
- Preparation time: 10 min
- Cooking time: 0 min
- Total time: 10 min
Typically made in under 10 minutes, the basic pico de gallo consists of tomatoes, white onion, cilantro, serrano and jalapeño peppers, juice of Mexican lime, and salt. To prepare, the ingredients are diced and mixed together with lime juice and salt.
However, variations of pico de gallo can be found throughout Mexico. For example, in the state of Jalisco jicama, oranges, serrano chile, and onion are first mixed, then seasoned with lime juice, chile piquín powder, salt, and pepper. There are almost no rules to what you can use, whether cactus fruit xoconostle, mango, watermelon, cucumber, papaya, or melon.
TIME
- Preparation time: 5 min
- Cooking time: min
- Total time: 5 min
Adapted from the gastronomy book Turkish Cuisine With Timeless Recipes, this recipe gives instructions on how to prepare the cacık dip the traditional way.
TIME
- Preparation time: 20 min
- Cooking time: 0 min
- Total time: 20 min
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Preparing tapenade is a no-brainer: olives, capers, and anchovies are pounded together until they form a thick purée, and the liquid ingredients — olive oil and lemon juice — are added gradually at the end. Traditional preparation calls for a mortar and a pestle, but by using a blender, you can have your tapenade ready in a matter of seconds.
A South-French specialty, tapenade can be made with black or green olives, which need to be pitted and well-drained before preparation. Since olives and anchovies are salty enough, there is no need to add salt — a pinch of pepper will do. A hint of acidity is brought by pickled capers (which are flower buds of the namesake plant) and a drizzle of lemon.
TIME
- Preparation time: 5 min
- Cooking time: 0 min
- Total time: 5 min
MAIN INGREDIENTS
The simplicity of preparation, widely available ingredients, plus virtually no fuss in the kitchen is what made tahini popular not just in Israel, but also worldwide. The word tahini — or tahina — may refer to two different things.
The first one is a paste made with roasted sesame seeds, salt, and oil, which serves as a base for the namesake dip or sauce, in which tahini paste, garlic, water, and lemon juice are combined into a form of a purée. Tahini paste — also called raw tahini — is usually store-bought, but it can also be prepared at home in just a few minutes.
TIME
- Preparation time: 10 min
- Cooking time: 0 min
- Total time: 10 min
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Creamy, herby, and simple to make, ranch sauce is by far the most popular salad dressing in the USA. However, it is also commonly used as a dip for chips, fried foods, and vegetables, or as a condiment in burgers, pizzas, and sandwiches. Although there are many industrial versions available, ranch dressing can easily be prepared at home.
Mayonnaise, buttermilk, and sometimes sour cream are whisked in a bowl, while fresh onions and garlic are crushed into a paste with some salt. Alternatively, powdered garlic and onion can also be used. Fresh or dried herbs, typically chives, parsley, and dill, are stirred in, and to finish, the dressing is seasoned with salt, pepper, and mustard.
TIME
- Preparation time: 20 min
- Cooking time: 0 min
- Total time: 20 min
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 8 Dip Recipes” list until April 20, 2025, 15,789 ratings were recorded, of which 7,804 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.