Description
Have you ever wondered if a dip could look like a creepy spider web with a scary avocado skull on the side? Picture a bowl of creamy guacamole topped with a sour cream web, a black olive spider, and a carved avocado that looks like a skull staring at you.
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a spooky, flavorful dip. Here’s what you’ll need, why each one matters, and some substitutions:
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Guacamole (4 cups): The creamy, flavorful base of the dip, store-bought or homemade.
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Substitution: Make your own with 4 avocados, lime juice, cilantro, onion, and salt.
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Mexican Crema or Sour Cream (1/4 cup): Creates the spider web pattern.
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Substitution: Use Greek yogurt or vegan sour cream for dairy-free.
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Lime Juice (as needed): Thins the crema or sour cream for piping, adds tanginess.
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Substitution: Use lemon juice or water.
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Pitted Black Olives (2): Forms the spider body and legs.
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Substitution: Use black beans or small black candies.
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Blue Corn Tortilla Chips: Perfect for scooping and adds a spooky color.
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Substitution: Use regular tortilla chips, veggie sticks, or crackers.
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Firm Avocado (1, skin-on): Carved into a skull for decoration.
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Substitution: Use a potato or skip for a simpler presentation.
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Why These Ingredients Matter
Avocados are packed with healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins like E and K, making this dip a nutritious choice. The crema or sour cream adds a creamy contrast, while the olives and tortilla chips create a spooky, edible design. The ingredients are affordable, widely available, and easy to swap for dietary needs, like vegan or gluten-free diets, making this recipe versatile for Halloween parties. The large yield (10-12 servings) ensures plenty for sharing.
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Guacamole Base
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Place a large, round, shallow bowl on a larger round platter.
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Fill the bowl with 4 cups of guacamole and smooth the top with a spoon or offset spatula.
Tip: Use a wide, shallow bowl to make the spider web pattern easier to create.
Step 2: Make the Spider Web
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If needed, thin 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream with a few drops of lime juice to make it pourable.
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Fill a squeeze bottle or pastry bag with the crema or sour cream.
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Pipe 4 concentric circles onto the guacamole, starting from the center and working outward.
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Use the tip of a knife or skewer to pull lines from the center circle outward, creating a spider web pattern.
Tip: Work quickly to keep the crema smooth and easy to pipe.
Step 3: Create the Spider
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Slice 1 black olive in half lengthwise; use one half for the spider’s body.
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Slice the remaining 1 1/2 olives into 8 thin strips for spider legs.
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Arrange the olive half in the center of the web and place the legs around it to form a spider.
Tip: Place the spider off-center for a more dynamic look.
Step 4: Carve the Avocado Skull
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Using a paring knife, cut 2 round eyes on the wide end of a firm, skin-on avocado, cutting through the skin and flesh to the pit; remove the skin and flesh.
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Cut an upside-down heart shape through the skin for the nose, removing only the skin to show the flesh.
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Cut a long rectangle through the skin for the mouth and remove the skin.
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Use a skewer or knife tip to draw lines on the flesh for teeth.
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Place the skull on the platter next to the guacamole bowl.
Tip: Choose a firm avocado to hold its shape during carving.
Step 5: Serve
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Surround the guacamole bowl with blue corn tortilla chips for scooping.
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Serve immediately for the freshest flavor.
Tip: Arrange chips in a circular pattern for a spooky, cobweb-like effect.