Usually when I post about a new dip or spread, it’s a variation on hummus. And, when grocery shopping I rarely find vegan spreads that aren’t hummus. You guys know I love my hummus, but sometimes we want a dip or spread that uses vegetables, or with different flavor combinations not typically found in hummus.
Enter Gourmet Creations! This is a local company (based in Langley, BC), that produces a line of plant-based, gluten free spreads and dips. When they reached out to ask if I’d review their line, I was most interested.
Gourmet Creations has six varieties of vegetable- and bean-based spreads that are all plant-based, gluten-free, and nut-free. The flavors are:
- Carrot-Ginger
- Black Bean Salsa
- Red Pepper
- Butternut Curry
- Mexican Chili
- Sundried Tomato
Review Summary
Taste: Overall, the collection of dips are flavorful without being too salty. Most have a tangy flavor, and several have spicy notes.
Ingredients: Their flavor and ingredient combinations are quite unique. While red pepper and black bean dips are not uncommon, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “Carrot-Ginger” or “Butternut Curry” spread in a store. Also, Gourmet Creations includes some unexpected ingredients within each flavor. The Red Pepper spread has quinoa as one of its ingredients. The Carrot-Ginger spread includes sunflower seeds – so unique! I also liked how the Mexican Chili has chickpeas that had been crushed or chopped to add body to the spread, a nice textural touch.
Favorites: My favorite spreads were the Butternut Curry, Sundried Tomato, and the Mexican Chili. The sundried tomato spread works particularly well spread on sandwiches and wraps for lunches. I gently heated the Butternut Curry spread, as it reminded me a little of a butternut squash soup, but obviously thicker and with more tang. The Mexican Chili was good straight up with tortilla chips.
Family-Friend Factor: As a mom, I’d say that these dips are best suited to more mature palates, as most have some spicy tones. However, diet is learned. I remember being so surprised to witness my friend’s toddler scooping salsa straight from a jar! So, I guess it depends on how much spice you generally eat in meals. The spiciest dips (to me) were the Carrot-Ginger and Butternut Curry. I think the Red Pepper dip had the mildest flavor. (I used the red pepper dip in a quinoa bowl with avocado and served it to our 13-year old – she really enjoyed it.)
Serving Suggestions: Often when we buy dips and spreads, we simply think to pair them with tortilla chips, rice crackers, or pita breads. There are so many other ways to enjoy these dips. Here are some of my ideas…
- Red Pepper Dip – As mentioned, I used it in a quinoa bowl, but you could also work it into hot pasta or use as a base for pizza.
- Sundried Tomato – This was my favorite spread for sandwiches, but I also tried it in these cucumber bites, hollowing out about 3/4 of the centre (not all the way through) and filling with the spread. Do something similar with mini-peppers, makes a great snack or party appetizer.
- Butternut Curry – Put an autumnal, ethnic spin on pizza, spreading as a base and topping with roasted vegetables and cashew cheese. Or, thin it out with coconut milk and mix it through steamed veggies like cauliflower, parsnip, and winter squash.
- Mexican Chili – I liked this one straight up with tortilla chips, but it would be terrific mixed with quinoa and stuffed in taco shells,
- Black Bean Salsa – Try this in stuffed baked potatoes. I’d use a combination of sweet potatoes and white potatoes, add a little of the salsa, some green onions, chopped red pepper, top with vegan cheese if you like and bake.
- Carrot Ginger – This spread was lovely on this toasted gluten-free bread (below), and even better with a layer of cashew cheese.
I’m sure you could come up with other serving ideas. And… you have the chance, since Gourmet Creations is offering 2 boxes (12 dips) as a giveaway! To enter, leave a comment telling us which dip you’d like to try, or one of your serving ideas.
Since these dips need to be refrigerated, contest is open to resident of BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. For more details about Gourmet Creations spreads and their tasting events in your area, visit their site.
Disclosure: Gourmet Creation send samples of their spreads for me to try, and I was compensated for my time to review and host this giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
cynthia
Black bean salsa sounds good!
Christine
Butternut curry looks amazing…on some homemade bread…I kind of want to pass out just from thinking about the deliciousness!!!
Harmony Smith
I am all about that Sundried tomato but the Butternut Curry would have to be the next one on my list. Actually, just put them all in front of me, I need to try them ALL!! haha.
Laura Black
My husband and I are dip fanatics. We do a smorgasbord almost daily with my husband’s homemade sourdough bread. These dips look amazing.
David
I am most interested in trying the Mexican chili variety.
Melissa
All of these favors sound really tasty, but I think I’d most want to try the Mexican chili and the carrot ginger.
Solducky
The carrot ginger!
Purnima Barve
I would love to try the Black Bean Salsa dip. Besides eating it by itself, I would like to mix it with guacamole, and serve with tortilla chips.
Ashley
Mexican Chili!! Yum 🙂
Kim
I enjoy your blog and appreciate all you share. I love red pepper dip with my Quinoa and can’t wait to try these flavours. I especially want to try the Butternut Curry.
Andrea
Red pepper on pasta! Amazing!
Stacy L.
Thanks for the great post Dreena! Can’t wait to try these!
Tara Worth
Definitely the red pepper! Yummers:)
Alice-Anne
Sundried tomato!
Karin
These do sound delicious! I think I’d enjoy each, in a variety of ways. Red papper and sundried tomato would take sandwiches, pizzas and pastas to another level! Yum!!
EVA
Being a “meat and potatoes” GF-vegan, I can appreciate a good chili, so the Mexican Chili is my number 1! The Carrot Ginger also sounds so refreshing….perfect for when my stomach’s acting up (everyday!) and seems like it’d be a delicious spread in a wrap. Or maybe mashed into some whipped sweet potatoes? Oh YEAH!
Megan Powell
That red pepper dip and black bean salsa look amazing!
Tracy P
I’d love to try the sun-dried tomato on a veggie burger!
Lisa Breece
I think the butternut curry sounds very good, and I’d love to try it.
Terri Bessey
I want to try the Butternut Curry!
Laurie Slatter
I am all about fall colors, I would try the butternut curry and carrot ginger, maybe on apple slices, maybe together!
Melissa
I want to try them all but that mexican chili looks like it would be perfect on my homemade taco chips. Yum!
michelle geil
Butternut curry sounds great! Yum (-:
angie
butternut curry!
Katie M
Butternut Curry or Black Bean Salsa 🙂
Nadia
Carrot ginger on apples!
Jen H
Butternut curry for sure!
Caroline
Oh my goodness. They ALL sound divine!!! The carrot ginger and the butternut curry sound so darn good! I will look out for them when they come east to Alberta!! Thanks for sharing Dreena!
Victoria C
On a cold wet day like today the Mexican Chili is speaking to me.
peggy
Mexican Chili
Alicia
red pepper dip and butternut curry sound yummy! 😀
Chris
Sundried tomato sounds delicious!
Sara S
Butternut Curry all the way! They are two of my favorite things 🙂
Sharon
They all sound unique and tasty, it’s hard to choose which one I would try first. Perhaps the butternut curry.
Martha
The red pepper and mexican chili look amaaazingly delicious!
KC
The best thing to do if you want local access to these great dips and spreads is too go to your grocery store and ask (Demand) for them by name. These are 100% vegetable with none of the bad stuff. Enjoy!!!
Truc
I am so curious about the carrot ginger! I generally have a low spice tolerance, but I love ginger and can eat a lot of it.
Claire
Those all look wonderful! Carrot ginger, but really all of them look great!
Pat
The Butternut Curry and the Black Bean Salsa will be winners in my home!
Shari
The butternut curry sounds incredible!
shirley
wow – they all sound great, but I am particularly drawn to curry, so the curry butternut would be my first choice!!
Suzanne Jones
I believe I will be trying them all!
Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern
Oh yum! I am an avid happy hour fan and I am always searching for something healthy to serve at happy hour. Some homemade crackers or baked pita chips and these dips are a great alternative to those days when I just don’t feel like hummus. Also great to bring to a party since just about everyone usually makes hummus knowing you are Vegan. I can always count on hummus.
Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern
Whoops, I am also in the US – sorry about that.
Sharon
The sundried tomato interests me.
Trish
The dips all look great! I’d like to try the Butternut Curry, because it sounds so unique and flavourful.
Janet Wales
I think they all sound delicious! But Carrot/ginger would be the first to try for me.
Lauren
Whoops! Just saw this giveaway isn’t open to the US! Don’t include me in! Sorry! 🙁
Lauren
The Mexican Chili, but they all sound good!
Kate
All of these sound delicious, I’d love to win them so I can try them!
Linda Eliason
I would love to try the carrot ginger.
Christina m Oddy
black bean salsa. we 4 year old loves dips, so this is a good way to get healthy food in her!
flora brown
I’d love to try them as spreads for last-minute pizza-like snacks & meals. Luckily both of my littles have a pretty high spice tolerance!
Deb
I think they all sound super! I would try the sun-dried tomato or the Mexican chili as the base for a vegan, homemade naan pizza! Sounds so yummy!! Thanks for the product review as well as a chance to win some!!!
Sandra
Carrot Ginger and Sundried Tomato sound divine
April
I would try them all separately, and then mix some of them to see if they taste even better that way! Thanks for the giveaway!
Rachel
I would like to try the Mexican chili. Probably on vegan nachos.
Natalie
I’d like to try them all,starting with the Mexican Chili.
Laura
Butternut curry-love that combo, but they all sound good, I would enjoy trying them all. They are a terrific concept!
Dee
Sundried tomato! Yes, please!!!
Vicky Taylor
It is so nice to have a give away in Canada and specifically the west! Thank you. I’d try the carrot ginger first 🙂
maria
I would like to try the mexican chili and sundried tomatoe dips.
Holly
Butternut curry!!
sarah
carrot ginger. MMMM!
Joan Kubes
I’d like to try th sun dried tomato and the Mexican Chili with tortilla chips.
Annette
They all sound delicious!! I would try Butternut Curry.
Jaime
We were just in Langley this july for a wedding! The black bean salsa and mexican chilli look right up my alley. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for these in Alberta!
Heather Jennings
i would love to try these!
Barbara
Oops! Forgot to notice the areas mentioned and I’m not within the boundaries… Sorry!
Barbara
Would definitely love to try some of these dips to change things up a bit in my snacking and also see other possibilities mentioned! They sound yummy!
Henriette
That would be awesome to try out these new varieties. They all sound
really good!!!
Shana Kuipers
Butternut Curry. I love curry!!
Kate
Butternut curry sounds perfect for fall.
Jen Strilchuk
I would love to try the carrot ginger one however they all look amazing!
Jodie
Sundried tomato by far the one I’d love to try! But the Butternut Curry sounds delish! Perhaps sundried tomato as a flatbread or pizza spread?! Mmmm.
Sandra Smith
they all look amazing but I’d try the carrot ginger first, since I love anything with ginger in it!
Tiffany
Hi Dreena,
I wish I could win these but I don’t live in the listed areas.
By the way I found raw jem nut butter – coconut cardamom and all I can say is wow!! Thank you for introducing it to me!! I’m nervous now as they are expensive and I’m sure I’ll be buying more and more lol
Do you know if the nut butters should be refrigerated? We poured a little over a frozen banana (heaven) and it seemed to harden so maybe I shouldn’t refrigerate?
Thanks!! Wishing you a wonderful Sunday xoxo
Laura B
I’d like to try all of them, probably starting with the red pepper since you said it was the mildest and I’m not a fan of really spicy foods. All sound yummy and can hardly wait to find it on the shelves here in Alberta.
summer wright
Carrot ginger looks great!