Why This Staple Party Appetizer Became So Popular In Post-War America

Onion dip is a party staple. Whether you like to pair it with chips, pretzels, or crudité, you're undoubtedly familiar with this combination of Lipton dried soup mix and sour cream. It's basic, it's easy to make, and it's been around for decades. But like many things that are just part of our culinary landscape, we tend to not even think about where they came from. In the case of Lipton's onion dip, the story behind it is actually quite interesting and goes as far back as World War II.

During World War II, Americans faced rationing and limited resources — they did what they could with what they had, making most foods from scratch. But following the war, convenience became a driving factor for Americans, and this showed in the recipes that came out of American kitchens. People had more purchasing power, emerging food technologies allowed companies to make quick and easy-to-make foods, and smart marketing techniques delivered them directly to homes across the country.

Lipton Onion Soup Mix, a dried mixture of seasonings for a hearty soup that is ready in minutes, is one of the conveniences that emerged. Lipton, which had already made quite a name for itself thanks to its popular line of teas, introduced its dried soup mix in the 1940s with something called Lipton Continental Soup Mix, but the onion soup mix that is so popular in dips today wasn't introduced until 1952.

With the newly found confidence behind post-war convenience and abundance, it wasn't long before an unknown cook (who many believe to have been a homemaker in California, since the dip was first known as "California Dip") mixed a package with sour cream, turning it the mix one of the classic American party dips that truly deserves a comeback. The rest is, as they say, history.

Post-war food prep ideas like turning soup mix into a lovely party dip are a testament to the creativity that makes cooking such a satisfying hobby. Most people make this dip with sour cream, but you can swap it out with labneh for a delicious upgrade. The ingredients, which consist of things like dehydrated onions, salt, sugar, cornstarch, garlic powder, and more add flavor, aroma, and act as a thickening agent, which makes the soup mix a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of surprising ways, like making flavor-packed meatballs.

You can also incorporate the dry mix into dishes like hamburgers, meatloaf, or even mix it into the broth for a flavorful pot roast. As a dip, Lipton's onion soup mix pairs great with raw veggies like carrots, celery, tomatoes, and broccoli, so it stands to reason that it will also work as a great flavor boost to roast or fried vegetables. Getting creative with it is part of the fun, so mix it with oil and coat a pan of roasted vegetables or add it into a pan of fried cabbage to make an already good side dish a great one. Like the homemakers and party hosts of post-war America who helped make Lipton's onion dip an enduring get-together favorite, you are only limited by your imagination.