Get the Salt Out (56 page)

353
If you want to have store-bought salsa on hand
just in case guests stop by unannounced, look for salsas by Mollina’s Finest or Enrico’s in health food stores. Both brands are made with sea salt and contain between 30 and 40 milligrams per tablespoon.
Two Salt Shakers.

354
Here’s a party pleaser: Spicy Bean Dip.
Serve it with unsalted toasted blue-corn tortilla wedges for a novel (and just plain fun!) presentation your guests will love.
Two Salt Shakers.

Combine the beans and salsa in a saucepan over medium heat and stir to blend well. Heat until hot, then stir in the grated cheese and cilantro. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 5 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve warm.
Makes about 2
½
cups.

355
Another dip that can turn a get-together into a fiesta
is guacamole. Make it by mashing the inside of one avocado and combining the mashed avocado with ingredients like finely chopped tomato, onion, salt-free chili powder, and fresh lemon or lime juice to taste. An even easier way of preparing guacamole is to mash up an avocado and mix it with the amount of low-sodium salsa you desire.
One Salt Shaker.

356
To make ultra-quick dips when you don’t have any time to spare,
use salt-free mixing packets like those from The Spice Hunter or the Canadian Herb and Spice Company (both
can be found in health food stores). Combine these savory herbal combinations with nonfat yogurt and a tablespoon of light sour cream for simple yet tasty dips that are low in both fat and sodium.
One Salt Shaker.

357
A small amount of miso (see tip 65)
is excellent for giving bland bean dips a slightly salty, robust flavor. This simple bean dip recipe from my book
Super Nutrition for Menopause
gives you an easy example of how to use miso.
Two Salt Shakers.

Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Serve with whole grain tortillas or crackers.
Makes 4 cups.

358
Emphasize vegetables at parties.
It’s one way to make sure you serve low-sodium, nutritious foods. Do not use vegetables only as crudites around the dip; use them as flavorful additions to the dip itself. Here’s a healthy vegetable dip idea from
Cooking for Healthy Healing
by Linda Rector-Page.
One Salt Shaker.