Here are some very quick dips that are ideal for quick summer entertaining.  Instead of serving with breads, crackers or breadsticks, I like to serve them with sliced apples, carrot sticks, celery, sweet coloured bell peppers and other vegetables these days.

The Method for all of them:

Simply place all the ingredients in a bowl and use a hand blender to mix to a smooth consistency. Ideally, leave in the fridge for an hour before serving.

Quick Guacamole dip
1 avocado, mashed
1 tbsp lemon juice
Small clove garlic
¼ tsp chilli flakes
Salt
1 tbsp plain yoghurt

Quick Ricotta and smoked paprika dip
150g ricotta, mashed
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp olive oil

Olive dip
200 g ricotta, mashed
75 g olives of your choice, finely chopped, use good olives !
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1 tbsp olive oil
Freshly ground pepper

Quick Creamy herb dip
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil or mint
100g cream cheese
2 tbsp plain yoghurt

Quick Curried mayonnaise dip
100g mayonnaise
½ tablespoon curry powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp yoghurt
1 tbsp chopped sultanas
2 tablespoons cucumber chopped up

Quick Cheese and chutney dip

50g Pecorino
100 g cream cheese
1 tsp chutney
¼ onion finely chopped

Quick Cucumber and yoghurt dip


½ cucumber, grated
Zest of ½ lemon
200g plain yoghurt
Fresh ground pepper

Quick Chickpea Dip

1 can chickpeas, drained and mashed
4 tbsp plain yoghurt
2 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp lemon juice

My dried herbs, spices, canned vegetables comes from Lamb Brand