Cheddar Scallion Dip

By SFCook

A cousin to pimento cheese but without those potentially child-deflecting red peppers, this cream cheese based dip is mild and slightly sweet from a splash of fresh orange juice. Pack it in a lunchbox with celery and crackers for your kids. Or, zip it up with a dash or two of Tabasco and some mashed garlic, spoon it into a bowl surrounded by good potato chips and serve it with cocktails to the adults. It will keep for at least five days in the fridge.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature), cubed
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
• Black pepper, to taste (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice, as needed
• 1/2 cup sharp Cheddar, finely grated
• 1 small garlic clove, mashed to a paste (optional)
• Hot sauce to taste (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

PREPARATION

Place the cream cheese, mayonnaise, scallion, salt, pepper (if using) and paprika in a bowl and mix and mash well with a fork or spatula until smooth. Mix in orange juice until smooth, and then mix in the Cheddar. If the dip seems too thick, add a little more juice. Taste for seasoning. You can also mix in a food processor if you like.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016781-cheddar-scallion-dip