SIMPLE SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE DIP RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring until it’s softened and fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add spinach to pot one handful at a time, letting each handful completely wilt before adding the next. Add crushed red pepper, if using, and season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid from the spinach has evaporated (no need to drain), about 3 minutes. Add artichokes and season with salt and pepper. Cook for a few minutes, just to take the raw edge off the artichokes.
• Reduce heat to low and add cream cheese and mozzarella. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir until all the cheese has melted, about 3 minutes. Stir in sour cream and pecorino, and season with more salt and pepper. You can certainly eat this dip straight from the pot (or transferred to a serving bowl), but running it under the broiler for a crispy top is also an excellent option. To do so, transfer dip to a small ovenproof skillet (6 to 8 inches). Place in oven and broil until the top is golden and the dip is bubbling, 5 to 8 minutes. Let sit a minute or two before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Using a serrated knife, cut about 1" off top of boule.
• Using your hands, scoop out bread from the inside of the loaf, leaving about a 1" -thick wall all around. Tear bread and top slice into 1½" pieces. Place torn bread and bread bowl on a rimmed baking sheet, discarding any small crumbs. Toss torn bread with 3 Tbsp. oil and season with salt. Coat inside of bread bowl with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil.
• Bake until edges of bread bowl are golden and crisp and torn pieces are browned, 25–30 minutes. Let cool.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring often, until very fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Add artichokes and cook, tossing, until well coated in butter, 1–2 minutes longer. Add spinach and salt and continue to cook, stirring and folding often, until spinach has wilted and most of the liquid is cooked off, 7–8 minutes. (It’s okay if the bottom of the pot isn’t completely dry. It just shouldn’t be swimming in liquid.) Add cream cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until melted. Add 3½ oz. Parmesan and 1 tsp. pepper and stir until melted and creamy. Taste and season with salt if needed.
• Transfer dip to bread bowl. (If it doesn’t all fit, serve remaining dip on the side or refill bread bowl as it gets eaten.) Top with Parmesan and a crank of pepper. Serve with toasted bread pieces or chips of your liking—don’t snooze on Stacy’s pita chips if you can find them.