Popping the Weight Loss

with

Smoky Low Calorie Cheese & Pimento Dip

and Chips

So, the festive period is over, the turkey has been eaten, several times over, the crackers have been pulled, the tree is bare and the carpet is pine needle green, the lights are down the waistbands are stretched……it’s been a jolly old time of feasting and now comes the fasting for the New Year. Depressing isn’t it? But, it doesn’t have to be that dire, and an occasional snack or treat IS allowed in January, albeit it in a more restrained fashion.

Being restrained doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice on taste however, and this recipe for Smoky Low Calorie Cheese & Pimento Dip served with PopChips proves that you have your crisps and eat them. I’m a big fan of PopChips, they fit into my calorie controlled diet (5:2 Diet) and one packet is only 95 calories, which is pretty impressive, plus they have no artificial flavours or colours in them. With the low-calorie count of these “popped potato chips” in mind, I decided to set out and create a tasty dip to accompany them.

To accompany my Sour Cream and Onion PopChips, I decided on a smoky little number using low-fat herb and garlic cream cheese, low-fat Cheddar cheese, some chopped pimentos and some smoked paprika…..the result was a spicy, smoky dip with a bit of attitude. I worked out that 2 tablespoons of this creamy concoction was only 35 calories, not bad eh? My step–by-step photos are shared below, but it’s a very easy dip to make and is almost totally guilt-free.

I am a BIG crisp addict, being a savoury person more than a sweet person, so why are these popped chips so good when I am on a diet? Well, they aren’t fried or baked, but are popped (like popcorn) with all the flavour and less than half the fat of fried crisps. I have to say that they were full of flavour with a great crunchy texture and with not of the excess grease and fat you get with fried crisps……we all got through several packets over Christmas and the New Year, by way of a lighter snack in between meals.

My recipe for this unctuous dip is shared below, and I DO hope you try this recipe out for a bit of guilt-free snacking at the weekend! Other flavours in the PopChip stable include: Original, Sea Salt and Vinegar, Salt and Pepper, Barbecue and Thai Sweet Chilli. See you soon with MORE low-calorie and 5:2 diet recipes, Karen

Why not visit PopChip’s social media pages for more information and recipe ideas? Face Book and Twitter

Disclaimer: I was paid to develop this recipe with PopChips, however, all views and opinions are my own

Smoky Low Calorie Cheese & Pimento Dip Recipe:

(makes 16 servings)

Ingredients:

225g low-fat grated mature Cheddar cheese

225g low-fat cream cheese with herbs and garlic

125g x jar diced pimentos, drained

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Mix the cream cheese and grated Cheddar cheese together until it is all incorporated.

2. Add the chopped pimentos and mix well again before adding the paprika and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Put the dip onto a bowl or container, and leave it to firm up in the fridge for about 1 to 2 hours before serving with crisps, chips or crudités.

Nutritional information:

2 tablespoons = 35 calories

Total fat = 2g

Saturated fat = 1g

WW points = 1 point

Protein = 5g