The 2-Ingredient Canned Chipotle Dip You Can Use With Everything

There should be an unspoken rule in the realm of snacking — dips should be easy and contain as few ingredients as possible. Alas, this isn't always the case. When did the seven-layer dip give way to the 12-layer dip, anyway? But hear the good word, fellow snackers. A new, ultra-low-key dip has arrived to provide uncomplicated deliciousness and it only requires two ingredients that are probably already hiding in your pantry. 

The first star of this dip is a remnant of a Tex-Mex-themed night of cooking, a can of chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce. The second is a standard of the bar snack scene, raw cashews. Why do these seemingly dissonant flavors work so well together? The buttery richness of the cashews blends perfectly with the smoky heat of the adobo-coated chipotle peppers. Working in concert, these two pantry staples help create one epic dip, hoagie spread, or scrambled egg topping. Basically, whatever you think could use a boost of spicy, nutty flavor, this mixture can fill that role in spades. 

To recreate this no-fuss dip, start with 1/2 cup of raw cashews and two chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Blitz them in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy. Add a tablespoon or two of water if the mix looks too chunky. From there, it's all about adjusting the seasoning with a bit of salt and pepper. Still, you can play with this simple formula if you'd like to throw in a few extra zingers. Fresh, tender herbs like cilantro could be a nice addition, as would a dash of garlic powder. If you don't have raw cashews on hand, roasted and salted should work in a pinch, just note that the salt will affect the seasoning and that the texture of your dip will be slightly drier, as roasted nuts have less overall moisture.    

As for recipe pairing, think of this dip as something between a cheat sheet mole, which often uses chipotles and peanuts, and a spicier take on Indian-style gravy, which is traditionally thickened with cashews. Thus, it'll work nicely with any dish that fits into the Hispanic or Indian tradition. Across the board, it'll add a bit of fire to creamy dishes, so think of swirling it into some yogurt or cheese-based sauces. But you can also keep it dead simple and pair it with a bag of your favorite chips. Any way you scoop it, you come out on top.