Let’s set the stage. You’re having a party, all of the guests have arrived, and you’re still bustling in the kitchen or working over a hot grill. How can you be a good host and take the edge off their appetites (and perhaps their impatience) without distracting everyone from all the good food to come?

The easiest answer is to put out some chips, crackers, pretzels, or slices of crusty bread or pita to go with a gourmet dip, salsa or spread you’ve either made ahead the night before or whipped up hours before the event.

Depending on what you choose to serve, most good dips, spreads, and salsas are versatile enough to complement any party or holiday gathering whether formal or informal.

Even better, many of the dips, spreads, and salsas we’re sharing below also make great burger toppers and memorable sandwich spreads, so even if you’re not entertaining, you can still evoke the party spirit at home.

A good gourmet dip also works well as a dressing or mix-in for fresh salad or can be used to take your omelets glamorous places far beyond the everyday humdrum breakfast rut so many of us tend to plow.

Enjoy!
 

• Fried Green Tomatillo Gourmet Grilled Cheese With Pepper Jack Cotija Spread Recipe

• Mexican Style Sweet Plantain Fries With Lime Cotija Cheese Dip Recipe

• Crispy Benne Seed Party Bites With Louisiana Honey Mustard Recipe

• Hugging the Coast.Com Holiday Dip Recipe

• Mini Falafel Dogs With Creamy Cilantro Yogurt Dip

• Baked Brie Dip With Sun Dried Tomatoes and Thyme Recipe from White on Rice Couple

• Muhammara Recipe (Middle Eastern Pepper and Walnut Dip) from Closet Cooking

• 7 Layer Dip Recipe, Italian Style, for Crostini from Ms. Adventures in Italy

• Smoked Tuna Dip Recipe from Pinch My Salt

• Delicata Squash and Gruyere Dip Recipe from The Kitchn

• Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe from 101 Cookbooks

• Texas Queso Dip Recipe from Chow

• Jalapeno Popper Spread Recipe from All Recipes

• Barefoot Contessa Roasted Eggplant Spread Recipe from Garden Guides

• A Crab Dip Recipe by Tom Douglas from Al Dente

• Baked Artichoke Dip Recipe from 101 Cookbooks

• Ful Medames Recipe (Fava Bean Dip) from FatFree Vegan Kitchen

• Gluten Free Sesame Dip Recipe from Elana’s Pantry

• Tahina Tarator (Tahini Spread Recipe) from A Life (Time) of Cooking

• Roasted Carrot Spread Recipe from Just Bento

• Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe from Simply Recipes

Please join us tomorrow to read our newest daily food and cooking feature on HuggingtheCoast.Com, a recipe for Southern Peach Scuppernong Salsa.

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(Photo Credit: Spiced Lime Tortilla Chips by olgucz.)