Vegan Makeover: Trader Joe's Caramelized Onion Dip

There are onion dips and then there are onion dips.  This is the latter.

A friend told me about Trader Joe's new onion dip.  It wasn't just any old french onion dip, like the kind where you mix the powder with a tub of sour cream.  This had caramelized onions!  Oh, I could taste the sweetness already!  I just HAD to make a (better) vegan version!

The great thing about this recipe is that it's super easy to make.  Also, the measurements are easy to remember and I use whole containers for convenience (I hate when I use 3/4 of something and then have a little left over.)  Plus, then it makes it easy to double or half the recipe.

You need:
3 yellow onions
3 tbsp canola oil
3 tbsp Earth Balance butter
(Basically 1 tbsp of oil & butter per onion)

8 oz. Tofutti cream cheese (plain)
8 oz. Vegenaise
12 oz. Tofutti sour cream
1 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp Frontier organic ground chipotle chili pepper


Heat oil and butter in pan on med to med high heat.  Cut onions in half and then half-circle strands, not too thick though or else it's hard to eat.  Saute the onions in the oil/butter mixture for about 40 minutes until golden brown.

Meanwhile, in a bowl (or kitchenaid), beat together cream cheese, vegenaise and sour cream.  Once blended, add salt, pepper and chili powder.  Scrape down sides and then place plastic wrap on top to prevent film from forming.  Set aside in refrigerator.

When onions are cooked down, place onions in strainer to let the excess oil and butter drip out.  I like to place the strainer over a bowl and leave it in the refrigerator (because it also cools down the onions).

Once the onions are cool, pour onions into the base mixture.  Use a spatula and fold the onions in (don't use electric mixer).

The dip is best if it's allowed to sit refrigerated for a couple hours to allow the flavors to mix.  But if that's an impossible task (and believe me, once you try this, you won't be able to resist for long), you can eat it right away as well.

For extra pizzazz, sprinkle a dash of paprika on the dip.  It'll make you look like the hostess with the mostest!  Serve with chips or veggie sticks.  It goes great with both!