Mushroom Spinach Dip is thick and creamy with sautéed mushrooms, onions and spinach, lots of garlic and a hint of rosemary. It’s all covered in a rich cashew cream that’s dairy-free and vegan and sure to be a hit at your game day or holiday party!
What’s the one item that’s always on your grocery list?
For us, it’s mushrooms. Okay, there are a few other staples on the list too. But I pick up mushrooms every time I go to the grocery store.
We go through A LOT of mushrooms. It’s one of the veggies my husband enjoys eating and I love their versatility. They’re great raw or cooked and go well in so many recipes.
And since we’re quickly approaching the holiday season, I thought I would get started a little early and share this easy warm mushroom dip with you. It’s rich and garlicky, and works as an appetizer for a dinner party or as a snack with some holiday cocktails.
This dip is also on the healthier side. It’s made with one pound of cremini mushrooms and three cups of spinach! So, it’s not only tasty but loaded with ‘good-for-you’ ingredients!
What are cremini mushrooms?
Cremini mushrooms (also spelled crimini) are brown in colour and have a similar shape to white mushrooms, but they have a firmer and meatier texture with an earthy flavour.
Adding cremini mushrooms (or any mushrooms) to your recipes is a great way to add fibre and nutrients such as vitamin D and minerals.
One of my favourite ways to use cremini mushrooms is to pair them with walnuts to create a vegetarian ‘ground meat’ that can be added to nachos and chilis.
And now I have another favourite way to use them – in this Mushroom Spinach Dip. It’s thick and creamy without dairy and comes together in just 30 minutes!
What you’ll need to make this Vegan Mushroom Spinach Dip:
- Cremini mushrooms
- Cashews and cashew milk
- Yellow onion
- Spinach
- Garlic
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut sugar
- Fresh rosemary
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
How to make this vegan cashew dip with mushrooms and spinach:
- Start by soaking your cashews in hot water for about 20-25 minutes. This will soften them a bit and make them easier to blend into a cream. While they’re soaking you can get started on the rest of the dip.
- Prep your mushrooms by gently rubbing the dirt off them with a paper towel. You can also wash them in cold water and pat them dry, but don’t do this too far in advance as the mushrooms will discolour.
- Slice your mushrooms into thick slices (about 1/2-inch thick). You should also take this time to slice your onion and mince or chop your garlic cloves.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the mushrooms and onions and stir them around to get some oil on them. The skillet will be full, but don’t worry, the mushrooms and onions will cook down. Cover and let cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and onions have softened. The mixture will be a bit watery.
- Stir in the garlic, vinegar, sugar and rosemary. Increase the heat and sauté the mixture for a few minutes, or until the garlic has softened and the liquid in the pan has burned off. Stir frequently and be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Remove from heat, stir in the spinach and cover for a few minutes to let the spinach wilt.
- Meanwhile, drain your cashews and add them to a blender with some cashew milk, garlic and salt. Blend on high until thick and creamy.
- Once the spinach has wilted, add the cashew cream to the skillet and stir to combine. Serve and enjoy!
How to serve this creamy mushroom dip?
This mushroom dip is best served warm. You can either serve it straight from the skillet or you can scoop it out into a bowl or serving dish.
We love it with tortilla chips, crackers and pretzels, but you can also serve it with warm pitas, veggie sticks or bread.
I’ve also enjoyed this dip for lunch on a slice of toast!
How long will this mushroom spinach dip last? How should it be stored?
This mushroom spinach dip is best served warm, so I highly recommend serving it immediately.
If you have some leftover, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy it within a day or two. If a little liquid forms on the top of the dip, which often happens with homemade cashew dips, just give it a stir.
This dip doesn’t have the same texture when re-heated so any leftovers are best enjoyed cold.
Additional tips for making this Vegan Mushroom Dip:
- If you don’t have cremini mushrooms, you can use white mushrooms instead.
- This dip is thick and chunky. If you prefer it less chunky, you can chop your mushrooms and onions into smaller pieces. You can also use more cashew milk to thin out the cashew cream.
- I went a little heavy on the garlic in this dip, but if it’s too strong for you, just leave out a clove or two.
- If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can substitute dried rosemary. Just reduce the amount to one-third as dried herbs are usually more potent than fresh.
- This recipe makes about three cups of dip and should serve about six people. So, if you’re making it for fewer people, you may wish to half the recipe.
- To keep this recipe vegan, make sure your balsamic vinegar is vegan. Some have added ingredients such as caramel and gelatin.
Pin this Mushroom Spinach Dip to make for your next party!
If you make this Mushroom Spinach Dip, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below!
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PrintMushroom Spinach Dip (Vegan Cashew Dip)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Canadian, American
Description
Mushroom Spinach Dip is thick and creamy with sautéed mushrooms, onions and spinach, lots of garlic and a hint of rosemary. It’s all covered in a rich cashew cream that’s dairy-free and vegan and sure to be a hit at your game day or holiday party!
Ingredients
For the cashew cream:
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or almond milk)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the mushroom mixture:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound cremini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced (1/2-inch thick)
- 1 medium-sized yellow onion, sliced or chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 3 cups packed fresh spinach
Instructions
- Add the cashews and hot water to a glass dish or jar. Cover and let soak for 20-25 minutes. While you wait, start making the mushroom mixture.
- Add the oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and onions and reduce heat. The skillet will be full but the mushrooms and onions will cook down. Cover and let cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and onions have softened. The mixture will be a bit watery.
- Stir in the garlic, sugar, vinegar and rosemary. Increase the heat to medium-high and sauté for a few minutes, or until the garlic has softened and the liquid in the skillet has burned off. Stir frequently and be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Remove from heat and stir in the spinach. Cover and let the spinach wilt for a few minutes.
- Meanwhile, drain your cashews and make the cashew cream. Add the cashews to a blender with the cashew milk, garlic and salt. Blend on high until thick and creamy.
- Once the spinach has wilted, add the cashew cream to the skillet and stir to combine. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have cremini mushrooms, you can use white mushrooms.
- This dip is thick and chunky. If you prefer it less chunky, chop your mushrooms and onions into smaller pieces and/or use more cashew milk when blending up the cashew cream.
- This dip is also very garlicky. If you’re not a fan of a lot of garlic, just leave out a clove or two.
- If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary.
- To keep this recipe vegan, make sure your balsamic vinegar is vegan. Some have added ingredients such as caramel and gelatin.
- This recipe makes about three cups and will serve around 6 people. You may wish to half the recipe if you’re making it for fewer people.
- This dip is best served fresh and warm, so I don’t recommend making it ahead and re-heating it. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy cold within a day or two.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
This dip has all of my favourite things in it.
Funny, mushrooms is the ONE thing that I never have on my grocery list because I am the only one in my house that likes it. When my husband is out of town, I am DEFINITELY going to try this!!
Leanne says
Haha! Thanks Cathleen. My husband is the opposite – loves mushrooms. So that’s why they’re always on my list!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs says
Literally drooling here Leanne! I love everything about this dip and know my entire family would gobble it up. My SugarBugs always tell me they don’t like mushrooms, yet I make a mushroom soup that is their all time favorite. {insert questioning look emoji}. Pinning to make soon!
Leanne says
Haha! Thanks Tasia! Appreciate you pinning. I hope your SugarBugs like the dip! And your mushroom soup sounds delicious!
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Leanne, this mushroom dip looks so creamy and full of flavor! Love mushrooms and spinach together!
Leanne says
Thanks so much Kelly!
Amanda says
This dip is definitely making an appearance at our upcoming holiday get-togethers. That cashew cream sounds fabulous, and I’m a sucker for anything with fresh rosemary and mushrooms. Thanks for sharing!
Leanne says
Thanks Amanda! Happy to hear it!
marcie says
Mushrooms are an essential for us too. They bulk up every meal and add so much flavor! This dip looks so creamy and delicious!
Leanne says
Thanks Marcie! Yes, we love them for the bulk factor too!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
I love cremini mushrooms – they have a much more pronounced flavour compared to white mushrooms; as you said, earthy, and probably a bit nutty. And this dip with cashew “cream”, garlic, and rosemary? Perfection!
Leanne says
Thanks so much Ben! Cremini mushrooms are our go-to for sure!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
Yay, mushrooms! We love them too, but unfortunately the kids freak out when they spy a mushroom, haha! I will have to make a big batch of this JUST for my husband and I! Yummy looking dip! Happy weekend!
Leanne says
Haha! Hopefully they will grow out of that! In the meantime, you can chop the mushrooms really small 😉 Thanks Katherine!
Sara Welch says
This is my kind of recipe! Two of my favorite ingredients in one bowl; can’t wait to make this for our upcoming Friendsgiving party!
Leanne says
Thanks so much Sara!
sarah johnson says
This looks so yummy. 😍I love that it’s dairy-free too. I’m always upto reducing the amount of dairy I consume.
Leanne says
Thank you Sarah!
Tisha says
Great dip for a get together or game day! Definitely have to try this!
Leanne says
Thank you!
Jessica Formicola says
I know my family will love this dip! I can’t wait to try it!
Leanne says
Thanks Jessica!
Dannii says
We are always looking for new dip recipes and this looks delicious.
Leanne says
Thanks Dannii!
Milena says
Absolutely love how you weaved in cashews and cashew milk in a mushroom spinach dip. Looks perfectly creamy and rich. Pinned.
Leanne says
Thanks Milena!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
This would be perfect for game days! It looks delicious and I’m adding it to my football watching menu. Have a great weekend, Leanne!
Leanne says
Thanks Kelsie! Hope you had a good weekend!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says
I love this delicious idea, Leanne! And I love that it is vegan. Cashews really do make such a wonderful and creamy addition! Saving to try soon!
Leanne says
Thanks Alexandra! Love adding cashews to dips for a creamy texture! Hope you get to try it!
Terry says
I’m a huge mushroom fan too so this is definetly a must try!
Looks like a great idea for get togethers.
Leanne says
Thanks Terry! It’s definitely a great dip for gatherings!
Dawn- Girl Heart Food says
We always have mushrooms, along with eggs, lemons, garlic, bananas, strawberries, onions, lol. The list goes on and on. But we do seriously love mushrooms and definitely enjoy a good dip so I know we’d devour this one! Just in time for Friday night too! Pass the chips please 😉 Pinned! Happy (almost) Friday!
Leanne says
Thanks Dawn! Those are all pretty much staples on our grocery list too! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
My husband would totally enjoy this Leanne. Mushrooms are his favorite. I’ll be adding this to our upcoming holiday appetizer list for sure!
Leanne says
Thanks Mary Ann!