It’s hard to resist a mouthful of taco goodness, especially when it’s dressed up with cheese, sour cream, refried beans, pico de gallo and guacamole. It’s an explosion of flavor that’s satisfying — and semi-nutritious. Hence the popularity of taco dip, a party food that delivers all things taco in a single bite.
Recipes for taco-inspired dips abound, of course, but for those seeking a shortcut, many markets carry a few pre-made versions. Some feature neat layers of ingredients; others blend them.
Layered-style dips are harder to come by, presumably because their fresh veggies give the dip a short shelf life. Taco-flavored, blended dips — tasty vats that incorporate taco flavors, but sidestep the fresh ingredients — are slightly more stable. We decided to taste them all.
Great taco dips are loaded with fresh flavors that are as good as a vegetarian street taco. They’re flavorful and rich, with a hit of spice. Bad taco dips are drowned in vinegar, or they deliver pasty bites that taste like spiced-up wallpaper paste.
Here’s the scoop on the memorable, please-repeat mouthfuls of taco deliciousness — and the bites to avoid. Nutrition info refers to 2 tablespoons.
Tapatio Fully Loaded Nacho Dip
This tiny container of extra-spicy, creamy dip will disappear fast. It includes shreds of cheese, whole black beans, bits of pepper and tomato. It’s like a 7-layer dip that’s been stirred into a creamy, delicious mess. 60 calories, 5 g fat, 190 mg sodium. $4.74 for 10 ounces at Walmart. (4 stars)
Fresh Cut Safeway Deli 7-Layer Dip Kit
Fans of fresh food will love this behemoth-sized dip. Chunks of fresh-cut avocado are tucked into deep layers of beans and cheese, then topped with a mix of fresh veggies that make it taste like homemade. The only thing it’s missing is spice. As this is made fresh, be sure to check the sell-by date. 40 calories, 2 g fat, 100 mg sodium. $7.99 for 25 ounces. (3½ stars)
Rojo’s Classic 5-Layer Dip
Generous layers of flavor-packed, shelf-stable ingredients make this a delicious choice. Well, generous until you get to the guac. That layer is minuscule. 35 calories, 2 g fat, 150 mg sodium. $6.99 for 28 ounces at Smart & Final. (3 stars}
Chipotle Bitchin’ Sauce
This rich, smoky flavored vegan dip is creamy and decadent. It has plenty of flavor, but it lacks the complexity of a multi-layered dip. This would be best used as a condiment (hence the name). 90 calories, 9 g fat, 140 mg sodium. $5.94 for 8 ounces at Walmart; $8.99 for 24 ounces at Costco. (2½ stars)
Nob Hill 5 Layer Black Bean Dip
A chintzy amount of cheese, vinegar-infused black beans and a mere trace of avocado make for a disappointing mouthful. 35 calories, 2 g fat, 140 mg sodium. $5.49 for 15 ounces at Raley’s. (1½ stars)
Signature Select Six Layer Bean Dip
The spicy beans at the bottom of this dip are tasty, but the rest is decidedly sour — it tastes like it’s been doused with vinegar. Even the trace amount of “guac” is sour, likely due to the tomatillos. 35 calories, 2.5 g fat, 150 mg sodium. $7.99 for 28 ounces at Safeway. (1 star)
Good & Gather Taco Dip
The flavor and drippy consistency of this is oddly reminiscent of Thousand Island Dressing. It could work as a dressing for taco salad, but it’s an utter failure as a dip. 45 calories, 3.5 g fat, 220 mg sodium. $4.99 for 12 ounces at Target. (½ a star)
The Honest Stand Spicy Nacho Dip
This sticky cashew-carrot paste both looks and tastes utterly revolting. 35 calories, 2.5 g fat, 220 mg sodium. $2.99 for 9 ounces at Grocery Outlet. (No stars)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
