Sunflower seed dip with lots of lemon dill, and garlic has a texture that's like a cross between a dip and a pâté. Serve it with crackers or veggies for a flavorful appetizer or snack!
Table of Contents
If you know me, you know that I. LOVE. DILL. Specifically, I love ranch seasoning, which is basically just dill, lemon, onion, and garlic. Despite having some ranch flavors in the mix, though, I wouldn't call this sunflower seed dip a ranch dip.
It's actually somewhere in between a dip and a pate. Or maybe it's just doing its own thing. Don't try to force this dip into a category. It just wants to express itself!
I love sunflower dip because not only is it easy to make, but it's very affordable! When it comes to nuts and seeds, sunflower seeds are some of the most budget-friendly ones on the shelf. I love a cashew, but sometimes my grocery budget does not.
Sunflower seeds are also more allergy-friendly, so if you're cooking for someone with a nut allergy, this lemony garlic dill sunflower seed dip is a great one to make!
🍋 Ingredients and substitutions
- sunflower seeds - You can use raw or roasted seeds, just make sure they are hulled. Soak them in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes to soften them, then drain and rinse before blending.
- bell pepper - Adds this really nice freshness to the dip. Chop it into chunks so it blends more easily.
- garlic - I'm calling for two cloves of garlic here. Garlic lovers, you know what to do.
- water - Helps everything break down in the blender.
- lemon juice - Dill and lemon were just made for each other!
- dried dill - You can use double the amount of fresh dill, if you prefer. If you do use fresh, mince it and stir it in at the end. If you blend in fresh dill, it tends to turn the whole thing green.
- olive oil - Rounds out the flavor of this dip so nicely!
- sriracha sauce - Adds just a little bit of sweet heat. You can omit, but it's so good in this sunflower dip!!
- onion powder - For umami.
🌻 Soaking the sunflower seeds
Just like when you make a cashew-based sauce or dip, soaking your sunflower seeds is mission critical. Sunflower seeds take on liquid and get easier to puree when you soak, so this is not a skippable step.
In fact, because you're soaking, you can use raw or roasted sunflower seeds. Even salted will work, because you'll get rid of most of the salt when you soak and rinse.
Soaking and rinsing also mellows out the flavor of the seeds so they don't overpower the dip.
Sunflower seeds will not get as smooth as cashews, no matter how much you blend them. This dip is deliciously creamy, but it does have a bit of texture from the seeds, which gives it almost a pâté-like feel.
If you want a dip that's totally smooth, I recommend using raw cashews in place of sunflower seeds or trying my tahini-based vegan dill dip or cashew ranch dressing instead.
🥣 How to make sunflower seed dip
- Soak the sunflower seeds in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain and rinse.
- Add the peppers and garlic to the blender and pulse until they're pretty well chopped.
- Add the remaining ingredients to your blender.
- Blend until you have a smooth mixture. Depending on your blender, this might take some time. Stop to scrape down the sides of the blender jar and give the motor a rest. Just keep blending and resting until you have a smooth, creamy dip. Taste and adjust the flavor. Add more lemon, dill, salt, etc, if needed, then blend and taste again.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and serve garnished with some fresh dill and a lemon wedge. Serve with veggies and crackers for dipping.
💡 Helpful tips
- Don't skip soaking and rinsing the seeds! Your dip won't have a great flavor or texture if you skip the soak.
- When you're blending, make sure not to run the motor for more than about a minute at a time max. Let it rest between bursts, so it won't burn out.
🫙 Storage directions
Leftover sunflower seed dip will keep for three to four days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
📖 Recipe
Sunflower Seed Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cups sunflower seeds soaked in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes, then drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper Just cut into chunks to make your blender's life easier. No need to dice finely or anything like this.
- 2 cloves garlic peeled, or more for more garlicky
- ¼ cup water NOT the soaking water - new water!
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons dried dill or more, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil optional, but I love how it makes the texture richer!
- ½ teaspoon sriracha sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the peppers and garlic to the blender and pulse until they're pretty well chopped. Add the remaining ingredients to your blender, and blend until you have a smooth mixture. Depending on your blender, this might take some time. Stop to scrape down the sides of the blender jar and give the motor a rest. Just keep blending and resting until you have a smooth, creamy dip.
- Taste and adjust the flavor. Add more lemon, dill, salt, etc, if needed, then blend and taste again.
- Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and serve garnished with some fresh dill and a lemon wedge. Serve with veggies and crackers for dipping.
Laura
Thank you for the sunflower seed recipe. I love, love, love sunflower seed butter, "sun butter". Did you know the large, blue & black Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly's host plant is the dill plant, the parsley plant and there are 2 other herbs the lay their eggs on & the babies eat the leaves, I saw one in my yard 2 days ago & read this info and now I am being very careful about harvesting the parsley. Thank you for all your hard work.
Becky Striepe
So glad that you're enjoying the recipe, Laura! :)
Melody montminy
Thanks for the butterfly info Laura very nice to know this. How lucky you ate to have such beautiful butterflys by you.???
Sarah De la Cruz
I love that you use sunflower seeds in this one! Hooray for nut free treats! Can't wait to try it!
Becky Striepe
Yay! I thought of you when I was making it!
jacquie
yum. i love dill as well. Have you ever put it in quick bread w/ perhaps similar seasonings and some wheat germ? i think i had something like that years ago and would love to be able to eat again. You up for a challenge?
Becky Striepe
I’m sure you could! Check out my homemade ranch seasoning recipe - I think you could add a batch to bread and it would be great.
jacquie
i was kind of hoping that you might be willing to do the recipe development as i don't even have a good basic bread recipe :)
Cadry
This sounds so good! I love snacky meals, and I'm always looking for a new spread to add to the mix.
Becky Striepe
Snacky meals are my favorite!
Katie Koteen
I LOVE dill. I'm always looking for new lunchbox ideas and this is just perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
Becky Striepe
Oh yay! Enjoy it, Katie!
Dianne
This dip looks amazing! I like to make sunflower seed cheese, but I've never thought to make a dip with them. Such a great idea!