Caramelized French Onion Dip

• 2 tbsp butter
  Swaps for butter

  Instead of butter

  • Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
  • Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
  • Vegetable oil: 3 tbsp oil for every 4 tbsp (¼ cup) melted butter. Cakes and muffins come out moister and stay soft longer, without a buttery taste.

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  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• 1 tbsp olive oil
  Swaps for olive oil

  Instead of olive oil

  • Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
  • Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
  • A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.

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• 2 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
  Swaps for yellow onions

  Instead of onion

  • Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
  • Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
  • Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.

  All 4 swaps for onion

• ¾ tsp kosher salt, divided
  Swaps for kosher salt

  Instead of salt

  • Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
  • Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.

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• 1 tbsp water, as needed
• 1 ½ cups sour cream ≈ 345 g
  Swaps for sour cream

  Instead of sour cream

  • Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount (full-fat for baking). Tangier and a little less rich.
  • Crème fraîche: The same amount. Richer and milder, and it doesn't curdle in hot sauces.
  • Cottage cheese, blended: The same amount, blended smooth with a squeeze of lemon. Milder and less rich, with more protein.

  All 4 swaps for sour cream

• ¼ cup mayonnaise ≈ 55 g
  Swaps for mayonnaise

  Instead of mayonnaise

  • Plain Greek yogurt: The same amount. Tangier and lighter; a bit looser.
  • Egg-free (vegan) mayo: The same amount. Very close.
  • Sour cream: The same amount. Tangier and less rich.

  All 4 swaps for mayonnaise

  Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  Swaps for Worcestershire sauce

  Instead of Worcestershire sauce

  • Soy sauce + vinegar: 1 tbsp soy sauce + ¼ tsp vinegar + a pinch of sugar for each 1 tbsp. Savory and tangy, less complex.
  • Vegan Worcestershire: The same amount. Very close, with no anchovies.

  More for Worcestershire sauce

• ¼ tsp garlic powder
  Swaps for garlic powder

  Instead of garlic

  • Fresh garlic: 1 clove for each ⅛ tsp powder, minced fine. Sharper and stronger.
  • Granulated garlic: About twice as much as the powder. The same flavor in coarser grains, which blend better into rubs.

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• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
  Swaps for fresh chives

  Instead of chives

  • Dried chives: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Freeze-dried chives keep color but little flavor; use them only as a garnish.
  • Green onion tops: The same amount, sliced thin. Stronger and crunchier.

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• To serve
• potato chips, for serving

Weights from USDA FoodData Central cup weights. Counted things (eggs, cloves, cans) stay as counts, and salt stays in spoons: kosher and flaky salts weigh very differently by brand.

Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.