I bought a bag of baby carrots on sale last week.  They’re great for a quick, crunchy snack and travel well.  But I was getting a little bored of the carrots before the pound was gone.  So I borrowed a trick from my nephews and decided it would be a lot more fun to dip them.

I was inspired by this recipe which suggests toasting the spices prior to mixing them in the yogurt.  After just a minute in the frying pan, the spices were very fragrant which was a nice touch.  The dip is both spicy and delicious!  It was great with carrots, but you could also dip other vegetables or even pita bread.  I would use Greek yogurt next time to make it thicker, but otherwise wouldn’t change a thing.

Spicy Yogurt Dip

1 t coriander
1 t paprika
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t turmeric
1/2 t chili powder
2 dashes of cayenne
1 T lime juice
1 c. plain nonfat yogurt, regular or Greek style

Mix spices in a bowl, and place in a small preheated frying pan.  Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently, and then remove from pan.  Mix toasted spices, lime juice, and yogurt in a small bowl.

• appetizers