You’ll love this quick and delicious Greek yogurt dip with spinach, chopped walnuts, lemon juice and fresh herbs. Yes, it’s a nutritious spinach dip with a tasty Mediterranean twist!
This post is sponsored by California Walnuts in celebration of American Heart Month. All opinions are my own.
Anyone else love a good spinach dip?!
If you do and are looking for a more nutritious option than the heavy, traditional spinach dip, I’ve got you covered!
In celebration of American Heart Month, today is all about a different kind of spinach dip--one with a tasty Mediterranean twist: spinach Greek yogurt dip with walnuts!
This satisfying dip boasts major texture and loads of flavor thanks to crunchy walnuts, fresh herbs and a good splash of lemon juice.
And the best part? It comes together in less than 10 minutes, no cooking required!
Greek yogurt dip with spinach and walnuts!
Yes, we’re tackling another yogurt dip today; there are more options than tzatziki out there, you know. And this one is delicious and satisfying!
In this spinach dip recipe, obviously the lower-fat yogurt replaces the heavy cheeses in a traditional spinach dip. And, in addition to a good dose of fresh baby spinach, this yogurt dip is amped up with my favorite nuts: walnuts!
I use California walnuts in this dip for a few important reasons:
- They add richness, great texture and a welcomed nutty flavor to my Greek yogurt veggie dip.
- They are convenient and available in most grocery stores. I find shelled, bagged walnuts often in the produce section or the baking aisle, and I keep them in the freezer for easy storage (they stay fresh for months!)
- Walnuts are a simple but powerful ingredient. They have more plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA (2.5 grams/ounce) than other tree nuts - that’s why they are a staple of the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. They are also certified as a heart-healthy* food through the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check program.
* California walnuts are certified by the American Heart Association. Heart-Check certification does not apply to recipes, research or information unless expressly stated. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet and not resulting in increased caloric intake, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One ounce of walnuts offers 18g of total fat, 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13g of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5g of alpha-linolenic acid – the plant-based omega-3.
How to make spinach dip with Greek yogurt?
This quick and nutritious spinach dip recipe literally takes two simple steps:
- Blanch the spinach
Drop the spinach in a pot of boiling water for 10 seconds, then quickly transfer them to a bowl of iced water for a couple of minutes to stop cooking (this will help the spinach maintain its brightness).
- Mix the spinach with the Greek yogurt, walnuts and seasoning
Drain the spinach very well and wring out all the liquid. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the spinach with Greek yogurt, chopped walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, fresh parsley, dried mint and a good pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Mix everything until well combined.
Serve
Serve this delicious Greek yogurt spinach dip with your favorite veggies or homemade pita chips. It is also great used as a spread over your favorite toast!
Variations for Greek yogurt veggie dip
Using Greek yogurt and walnuts as your base, you can change up this yogurt dip to use what you have on hand:
- Use different herbs. In this recipe, I used parsley and dry mint, but basil, dill, or oregano would also work.
- If you don’t have spinach, you can try another dark leafy green (baby kale leaves are a good option). You can follow the same method for blanching the greens.
How long does Greek yogurt dip last?
This Greek yogurt veggie dip recipe makes a bit more than 2 cups. If stored properly in a tight-lid container in the fridge, it should keep well for up to 3 days or so. The color of the spinach and fresh herbs may darken a bit.
More recipes with walnuts
- Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach Ricotta and Walnuts
- Banana Walnut Bread with Olive Oil
- Egyptian Dukkah
- Homemade Granola
Hungry for more? Check out more of my dip recipes. Try our top 50+Mediterranean diet recipes. Browse all Mediterranean recipes
Visit our online shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils and spices
Walnut Spinach Greek Yogurt Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Kosher salt
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup walnuts finely chopped
- 1 garlic cloves minced (more to your liking)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice more to taste
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon dry mint
- Black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
To serve:
- Veggies
- Homemade pita chips
Instructions
- Blanch the Spinach. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of iced water and keep it near. Add the spinach to the boiling water and cook for 10 seconds. Using a pair of tongs, transfer the spinach to the iced water and allow it to cool for a couple of minutes. Drain well and wring out any excess water.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the blanched spinach, yogurt, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, and mint. Add a good dash of kosher salt and black pepper. Add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 2 tablespoons). Mix to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve with your favorite veggies and homemade pita chips.
Notes
- This recipe makes 2 cups (or 16 tablespoons) of yogurt dip.
- Storage: store in the fridge in a tight-lid container. If properly stored, it should keep for 3 days or so.
- Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils and spices.
I’m not a fan of mint unless it’s ice cream 😉 but I think dried dill would be amazing in this. Will be making it soon!
Oh, Deb.... the mint is this dip will surprise you in the best way! You should really give a bit a try!
Looks deliscious! Can't wait to try!
Would it work with fresh mint or only dried?
Thanks!
Hi, Cindy. Fresh mint would work here. You will want to use 1 Tablespoon. Enjoy!
Can you use fresh spinach without blanching it?
Hi, Debra. I feel it is better blanched here, but you could try it with fresh, unblanched spinach. Just be sure to chop it finely.
Can blanch baby spinach in a colander by pouring boiling water from a kettle over. Shake it up to drain. Also can spread on a plate, cover with wet kitchen towel and microwave 1 to 2 minutes.
Tecipe is great but just an FYI: 1 cup(US) is 16 tablespoons(US). So 2cups would 32 tablespoons.
This looks really good. Do you use full fat or a reduced fat yogurt? I love all of your recipes, make several of them all the time and have ordered some of your oils and spices. Keep up the good work !
Hi, Melanie. Either will work here :).
Could I just use fresh spinach, finely chopped, in this recipe?
Hi, Anne. Yes... this recipe actually calls for fresh spinach.
Believe it or not, I am not fan of walnuts, it's the only nut I don't like. Do you think I can substitute another nut, even though probably not as healthy? Or maybe I just try it with the walnuts, and hopefully I'll learn to like them.
Hi, Carol! I think you should at least give the walnuts a try here! You might be pleasantly surprised at the flavor combo :).
Do you have a favorite Greek yogurt that you prefer?
Hi, Cindy! Not particularly, but I tend to grab Stoneyfield, Fage or Chobani as their readily available at my neighborhood market.
Such a delicious dip!! Everyone at my house loved this appetizer!
Awesome! Thanks, Toni!
Can you use defrosted frozen spinache?
Hello! I really recommend fresh spinach for this one.
Yummy! My husband is going to love this recipe! Looks tasty and full of flavor! So excited to give this a try!
Can't wait to hear what you think!
Mmm, I do love a good spinach dip! Thanks for these healthy ideas for it!
Enjoy! 🙂
This is such a tasty dip! We made it last night and everyone loved it. I love the addition of walnuts too.
I'm so glad to hear that! Thanks, Michelle.
I love that this is made with yogurt rather than mayo or anything else heavier. It looks like a delicious mix and great being so easy too.
Thanks, Caroline.
This dip is amazing and I love that it only takes 10 minutes to put together without any cooking involved. Perfect for a quick snack. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed it, Kalu.
Am a great fan of walnuts and love the combination of nuts and greens in a dip! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.
My pleasure, Nisha! Hope you give it a try!
This has always been great to whip out for parties. I love the texture of the walnuts, the herbs and the tang from the lemon!
Thanks, Trang!
It's the rich mix of flavor between the spinach and lemon that keeps me coming back for seconds, and it only gets better with the added texture from the walnuts! Thanks for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed it, Izzy.
This dip was absolutely delicious! The directions were easy to follow.
Thank you, Sandi!
Can you use frozen spinach if you don't have fresh?
Hi, Diana. We've found that fresh spinach is really best for this recipe.
I love the idea of adding walnuts for flavor and a little texture too! And wow, I did not realize all the nutritious value with walnuts...Omega-3s too! Awesome!
Hope you enjoy the recipe, Amanda!