Creamy, Zesty Crème Fraîche: Perfect With Veggies!
Raise your hand if you’re constantly on the lookout for quick–and I mean quick–and easy appetizers.🙋🏻♀️ Ok, great! This creamy garlic and herb Crème Fraîche Dip takes a mere 5 minutes to whip up — just stir everything together in a bowl — but it delivers on both taste and texture. For so few ingredients, it delivers a serious wow factor.
Everything You Need To Know:
- Other than a container of crème fraîche, you’re likely to already have everything on hand to make this.
- It’s creamy, tangy, garlicky, and has a fresh taste all at the same time. Thanks, fresh herbs! 😏
- If you’re in need of a low-lift, no-stress appetizer, it doesn’t get simpler.
Whether you’re hosting a party or craving a quick snack, this dip shines with minimal effort. Plus, it tastes like spring in a bowl!
I am the queen of serving simple dips at parties. A few of my more crowd-pleasing appetizer recipes include this creamy smoked trout dip with crème fraîche, my oven-baked goat cheese dip, or these irresistible bubbly, cheesy buffalo chicken dip!
Crème Fraîche Alternative
If crème fraîche is hard to find, you can use full-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. The end result will be somewhat tangier, so adjust the lemon and salt as you see fit. Quick note: my favorite brand is Vermont Creamery (not sponsored, just pure deliciousness that you may want to try).
And speaking of modifications, I haven’t tested this with other citrus, but I imagine lime zest or orange zest and juice would be delicious here as well.
Suggestions For Crudité
The possibilities are endless, but my best tip is to use seasonal ingredients! Whatever looks best at the market. Use the following as a starting point:
- Cucumbers
- Radishes
- Bell peppers
- Peas, such as snow peas or snap peas
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
- Small carrots
While I stuck to vegetables, even grapes or apple slices would be fantastic with the dip!
5 Minutes Is All You Need To Make This
This is truly a 5 minute recipe! You simply need to empty a container of crème fraîche into a bowl, then add extra-virgin olive oil, a grated clove of garlic — use a small one, raw garlic can be extremely pungent! — some lemon zest, lemon juice, kosher salt, and black pepper.
To this, you’ll add lots of freshly chopped herbs. Stick to soft herbs, but the variety is completely up to you. I like tarragon, dill, and chives, but parsley, cilantro, basil or chervil are good options too.
Harder herbs, such as rosemary, while delicious, will leave the dip feeling slightly less creamy.
Ari’s Best Tips!
- Use garlic sparingly: Raw garlic is extremely pungent, and it’ll intensify the longer it sits. I’d recommend using one small clove and only adding more if desired (after tasting). Also, grating instead of mincing will help it blend more smoothly into the sauce without biting into chunks.
- Use fresh herbs: Dried herbs won’t capture that burst of flavor you get with fresh.
- A fresh lemon is best: Similarly, the flavor simply won’t be as bright and fresh if you use store-bought lemon juice.
Serving Suggestions
- Crudités: I find that a delicious, creamy dip is a fantastic way to motivate me to eat more veggies. Spoon the dip into a bowl, then surround it with your favorite raw vegetables.
- Crackers or Crostini: The dip’s luxurious texture pairs perfectly with something crunchy. Crackers, crostini, toasted baguette, or even crunchy breadsticks.
- Sandwich Spread: Slather it onto sandwiches or wraps for a tangy, herb-flecked flavor boost. It would be fantastic on my homemade salmon burgers or a loaded vegetable sandwich.
This Garlic and Herb Crème Fraîche Dip is a simple yet sophisticated way to bring flavor to your snack platter or party spread. With its bright tanginess, dreamy texture, and beautiful blend of fresh herbs, it’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser—so give it a try and watch it disappear!
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Garlic & Herb Crème Fraîche Dip for Crudité
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (8oz) crème fraîche
- 2 Tbsp high-quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small clove of garlic, peeled and grated
- 2 tsp lemon zest, from 1 medium lemon, plus 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp chives, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp tarragon, very finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp dill, very finely chopped
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dip. Place 1 cup (8oz) of Crème Fraîche in a bowl, then add 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 small clove of grated garlic, 2 tsp lemon zest, 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp kosher salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper.
- Add fresh herbs. Add 2 tablespoons each of freshly chopped tarragon, dill, and chives, then stir well. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with crudité, crackers, or crostini.
Notes
- You can use any combination of fresh herbs you like, including chives, tarragon, dill, basil, cilantro, parsley, chervil, etc. I prefer soft herbs for this dip (instead of something like rosemary).
- Make-ahead: Feel free to prepare this dip a day in advance. In fact, letting it chill in the fridge helps meld the flavors even more.
- Leftovers: The dip will keep in an airtight container in a fridge for up to 5 days. Do not freeze.
Let us know your thoughts!