Giada De Laurentiis Just Turned Your Favorite Salad into a Party Dip

No one does easy meals quite like Giada de Laurentiis. From her viral sheet pan lasagna to tiramisu, she has elevated the art of the weeknight meal. Her cooking style makes even the loftiest dishes feel super accessible, and she’s also known for putting fun spins on the classics.

This latest recipe rework turns a Caprese salad into—wait for it—a dip! Here’s how to make and enjoy a Caprese dip, courtesy of Giada.

What’s in her Caprese dip?

The three-ingredient summertime staple is as basic as it gets: Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then sprinkled with salt and pepper. Just reading that description makes me want to drink an Aperol spritz.

Giada has tweaked the ingredients to make the flavor profile more appropriate for cold weather. She uses whole-milk ricotta cheese and canned cherry tomatoes to create a creamy base, then tops it with torn basil leaves and balsamic vinegar.

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For serving, she recommends crostini or crackers, but I think hunks of fresh Italian bread would also be a great dipper.

Why does she use canned tomatoes?

The beauty of a Caprese salad is that it elevates fresh ingredients, so why skip the fresh tomatoes? Well, first, they’re not in season, so they won’t be quite as flavorful for your Super Bowl party as they would be for, say, a Fourth of July cookout.

Canned tomatoes are certainly more accessible year-round, but the specific type matters, too. They should be canned cherry tomatoes, which are known for their sweetness. This detail elevates the flavor of the dip, and the moisture content of the canned tomatoes make it extra-smooth. So, get to dipping!