| Kiwi Onion Dip | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Creator: | Rosemary Dempsey |
| Year: | 1950s or 60s |
| Type: | Dipping sauce |
| Served: | Chilled |
| Main Ingredient: | Powdered onion soup, reduced cream |
| Variations: | Lemon juice, parsley, vinegar |
| Other: | Kiwi onion dip is an iconic dish in New Zealand cuisine, often enjoyed at parties and social occasions. |
Kiwi onion dip is a type of dipping sauce eaten in New Zealand. Often referred to as 'kiwi dip', 'onion dip' or 'original kiwi dip', it consists of a packet of powdered onion soup stirred into a can of reduced cream, which is then left to refrigerate and thicken, and is often then garnished with lemon juice and sometimes parsley. "Kiwi" refers to this being a New Zealand dish as opposed to the dip containing kiwifruit nor any kiwi (bird) products. Served alongside potato chips, crackers, or chopped vegetables, the dip is a popular dish at parties, barbeques, and other social occasions. A small amount of vinegar or lemon juice can be added to the dip for flavour.
Kiwi onion dip's creation has been credited to Rosemary Dempsey, a home economist for Nestlé New Zealand in the 1950s or 60s.[1]
The dip has assumed an iconic status in New Zealand cuisine. In February 2019 Nestlé released a campaign bannered "Kiwi as", aligning the dip with canonical moments in New Zealand popular culture.[2] Lauraine Jacobs, a food writer, has said Kiwi onion dip is an “all-time classic”. “My mother made it. My son and his wife make it, and think themselves clever. So now it is the darling of yet another generation."[1] The dip is often missed by New Zealanders living abroad who may not have access to reduced cream, a dairy product only widely available in their home country.[3] In 2019 it was reported cans of reduced cream are commonly found in the suitcases of New Zealanders as they travel overseas.[4]
In April 2019, Countdown supermarket announced the introduction of 'NZ Onion Dip Icecream', a two-litre tub of ice cream flavoured with caramelised onions and reduced cream. The product was later declared by the supermarket to be an April Fools' joke.[5]
In 2022, the Kiwi onion dip with Eta's Salt and Vinegar Ripple Chips is the combined replication challenge for episode six of season one of Snackmasters NZ.[6]