Creamy Avocado Dip or Dressing- A Failure Worth Keeping
Is it a creamy avocado dip or dressing? It can actually be both deepening on how big your avocado is! 
Frustrations in the kitchen aren’t new to us. Struggling is learning and of course, a test of patience. If there’s a recipe we kept fighting, this was the one but when we realized we needed to stop. The recipe couldn’t have been more perfect. A few months ago we were trying to perfect a creamy cilantro dressing for our studio shoot lunches. Team lunches are a big deal, especially when it comes to our salad bar. Because of this, we’re obsessed with making it amazing. We just couldn’t get the avocado to the texture of a dressing after it was chilled. Our problem was that we didn’t want to dilute it down too much because we LOVE the flavor of the avocado. But if there was too much avocado then it became too think.
Video: Creamy Avocado Dip Recipe (or Dressing)
Fast forward about 8 attempts later in the kitchen did we realize that what we were dealing with was actually the PERFECT recipe for a dip! Forget the dressing. We dunked some carrots and celery into our multiple batches of “failed dressings” and talked out loud at how amazing of a dip it was and why we were fighting it to try to force it to become a dressing.
So voila! Our final recipe for our creamy avocado dip was born without any more effort. And for the dressing version? Just add more milk or water and it becomes the dressing for a bed of salad. It’s times like these when we “think about it too much” and try to force something that isn’t meant to be. This creamy avocado dip recipe has been a hit and the story that goes with it makes it even more delicious and precious.
Enjoy. -diane and todd
Try our Spinach Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing
Folks love our spinach bacon salad with avocado vinaigrette!
Here’s more avocado recipes to enjoy. This recipe was originally publish din 2017 and re-published in 2019 with an updated video.
Creamy Avocado Parmesan Dip or Dressing
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) oil
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
- 1 cup (225 g) mayonnaise
- 1 medium (1 medium) avocado , peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
- Zest of 1 lime
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lime juice
- 1 cup (120 ml) chopped cilantro
- 2 cloves (2 cloves) garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) kosher or sea salt , or to taste
- 3/4 cup (75 g) freshly grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) chili flakes
For the Salad:
- Your favorite greens
- Tomatoes , carrots, cucumbers, etc…
- Croutons
- parmesan shavings
- black pepper , to taste
- lime wedges (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender (oil, water, mayonnaise, avocado, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, black pepper, salt, parmesan, sugar, and chili flakes) until everything is smooth.
- Adjust to your preferred consistency if needed by adding a little bit of water at a time.
- If you're serving as a dip, add some chips and veggies to the side for dipping. Or toss it into your favorite salad greens and all your favorite salad toppings for an awesome salad.
Our family is in love with this avocado dip. It’s so creamy and good.
Loved all the flavor and the consistency of it. I used Vegenaise and ofcourse it turn out just great. The color of the dip, using it as a dip, is gorgeous.
Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Alicia and that’s awesome that you used veganaise!
I love how creamy this came out! It’s a nice breath of fresh air from the usual guacamole.
This is definitely a dip and a delicious one at that! I am just wondering how long it will keep in the fridge?
Made this for a recent party and it was a huge hit! I’m totally making this for all future events. Thanks for a great recipe.
I made this for my chicken and bacon and crouton green salad. It is yum. I did not have any cilantro, and did not put in the chili or the sugar, I used only a hint of rind of lime, and made half the recipe, with a small avocado. It fit in my mini prep food processor. I do not think I will put in any water, but maybe later.
Love the flavors in this dip! And your photos are just beautiful 🙂 Avocado has such an amazing flavor, I would have to dilute it too much too.
I simply love it. I actually tried it as a dressing to my salad – turned out delicious.
Thanks Christine! Glad it worked out as a dressing.
How far ahead of time can this dip be made? This sounds wonderful thanks for sharing!
We’ve made it up to 2 days ahead and it still tasted great.
Thank you I’m going to have this for our appetizer tonight. Have a great day!
This dip looks so easy and good. Would love to slather them on toasts!
Yes to avocado dip toasts! 🙂
What type of oil do you suggest using?
You can use olive oil but we prefer grapeseed oil because of it’s neutral taste and lighter consistency.
Anything that tastes great is not a failure to me! Plus it’s great to have avocado that’s not in the form of guacamole!
Totally yes to anything avocado different from guac! It’s great to mix things up.