Friday, May 25, 2012

Just In Time for Memorial Day: Nuevo Latino Layered Dip...Featuring Wholly Guacamole Products


The long Memorial Day is officially here, so it’s time to celebrate with friends and family...and make some yummy foods to share with them. I’ve got a fun and flavorful appetizer to share with y'all today. Since the holiday weekend is as much about spending time with the people we love as it is about the food that's served, it’s important to save time in the kitchen where you can. To help accomplish that, Wholly Guacamole  (a Texas-based product, by the way...) recently sent me a package with some goodies...and some free product coupons to create an easy and delicious appetizer for you! I hope you enjoy The Weekend Gourmet’s modern update take on a classic party appetizer: Nuevo Latino Layered Dip.

By using their ready-made Red Pepper Mango Salsa and vacuum-sealed chunky avocados, I was able to assemble this tasty dip in about 20 minutes! You’ve most likely eaten classic seven-layer dip with crispy tortilla chips before. It’s a classic because it’s portable, yummy, and nearly everyone loves it.  I wanted to put a fresh spin on it....but keep it familiar enough that you recognize it origins I kept the base of refried beans, as well as a simple guacamole layer. In place of traditional sour cream, I flavored fat-free Greek yogurt with lime and chili powder. I used the fruity salsa to bring a sweet-spicy flavor to my dip. I also added layers of smoky bacon and salty feta, which is very similar to Mexican cotija cheese. If you can find cotija, feel free to use it. I had feta in the fridge, so I just used that.

Simply assemble this appetizer in a pretty pie plate a few hours before your party and refrigerate until serving time. When your guests arrive, open up a big bag of  sturdy tortilla chips, and let everyone dig in! This dip is also perfect for transporting to a potluck if you're a guest instead of the host. I was really impressed with how much time the Wholly products saved me. The salsa was fresh and chunky...and the avocados were creamy and perfectly ripe. Sometimes I think an avocado is ripe when I buy it, then I bring it home and it’s not the right consistency inside when I go to use it. This pre-packaged avocado was the perfect chunky consistency for the guacamole layer of this dip.

Nuevo Latino Layered Dip
a Weekend Gourmet Original

Step 1:  Using a spatula, evenly spread one can of refried beans in the bottom of a pie plate or pretty platter. Note: my preferred brand is Amy's Organic. Next, combine one package Wholly Guacamole 100% fresh chunky avocado, the juice of 1/2 lime, 1 tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. dried cilantro. Evenly spread this rustic guacamole over the beans in the dish.


Step 2:  To make the crema, combine 1 container fat-free Greek yogurt, the juice of 1/2 lime, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 tsp. chipotle chile powder in a small bowl. Carefully spread the chile-lime crema over the guacamole in the dish. Next, drain the excess liquid from a container of Wholly Red Pepper Mango Salsa. Spread the salsa evenly over the crema, but don't fret if it doesn't quite reach the edges.


Step 3:  At this point, you can cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you're ready to serve. Just before serving, top the dip with: 2 sliced green onions, 1/2 cup crumbled feta or cotija cheese, and 3 slices crumbled bacon. Serve with a big bowl of sturdy tortilla chips...I use Frontera Grill's Thick and Crunchy chips. Thin chips are no match for this thick dip...trust me!


This dip is a total fiesta of flavors: creamy, spicy, salty, smoky, and sweet...all at once. The bacon may seem out of place, but it provided a nice smoky counterpart...and it played really nicely against the beans and feta. I hope that you’ll give this dip a try at your next cookout or family get-together. To find out where you can purchase Wholly Guacamole products near you, please visit the store locator at their website

While you’re there, you can find all kinds of yummy recipes...and be sure to Like them on Facebook to receive a coupon for $1.50 any Wholly product for the holiday weekend. And...I’m going to be giving away three Wholly Guacamole Prize Packs during the long holiday weekend. Pay attention to my Facebook and Twitter feeds...you never know when you’ll get a chance to win!!

P.S. Lucy sez, "Come back on Sunday for a FANTASTIC recipe for Sparkling Watermelon Sangria as part of #SundaySupper!!"


1 comment:

  1. Thx for connecting with me on foodbuzz. I just subscribed to your blog feed and can't wait to see what your next post will be!

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