Description
Ina Garten’s spinach artichoke dip blends creamy cheeses with tender spinach and artichoke hearts for a luxurious appetizer. Guests will savor each rich, tangy bite of this classic party favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz / 226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 (14 oz / 397 g) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- ½ cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp garlic salt
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a small baking dish, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Mixing Base: Blend cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan, Romano, garlic, basil, garlic salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth and cohesive. Whisk thoroughly to eliminate any lumps and create a uniform consistency.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold chopped artichoke hearts and drained spinach into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution of vegetables throughout the base. Mix gently to maintain the delicate texture of the ingredients.
- Assembly: Spread the combined mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, using a spatula to create a level surface that reaches all corners and edges of the dish.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle mozzarella cheese across the entire surface, creating a complete and inviting cheese layer that will melt and brown during baking.
- Baking Process: Transfer the dish to the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. Monitor for key doneness indicators: bubbling edges and a golden-brown top that signals perfect caramelization.
- Serving: Remove from oven and let rest for 3-5 minutes to stabilize the dip’s consistency. Plate with crackers, baguette slices, or fresh vegetable crudités for an appetizing presentation.
Notes
- Cheese Quality Matters: Use freshly grated Parmesan and Romano for richer, more complex flavor compared to pre-packaged cheese.
- Moisture Management: Thoroughly drain spinach and artichokes to prevent watery dip and maintain creamy consistency.
- Temperature Precision: Let cream cheese soften at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, lump-free blending.
- Serving Strategy: Allow dip to rest briefly after baking to set texture and enhance overall taste experience, preventing burning and improving structural integrity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg