Low calorie spicy spinach and artichoke dip

Big fan of spinach and artichoke dip? then you will adore this low calorie spinach and artichoke homemade dip. When you order in restaurants it appears as a humble dip but you are gobbling up lots and lots of calories. When you make it at home you can control what goes in and how much goes in, so homemade dips are an easy way to keep a check on calories plus you get to enjoy what you really like. There are so many versions of this dips, this is my version of the dip.It doesn't have mayo or sour cream, so if you are a calorie counter , this is the dip for you. Plus it doesn't have a huge amount of cheese but it does taste cheesy.

This dip is cheesy,hot, gooey and spicy. It is my version so I made it spicy for my husband. My husband doesn't like cheese. I know! who doesn't like cheese????? He removes cheese from pizza and east them??!! how about that.. plus reaches to my pizza and tries to remove mine too!!!! 

I have tried to give him cheese in a variety of ways, but he is like a dog sniffing a bone, he finds out that it contains cheese and that's why you would have seen a series of valentines day Italian dishes without cheese!

Here is the recipe.. try it you will love it too..

I am making a white sauce instead of mayo and sour cream and add the spinach and cheese to them. Use any kinda of cheese you like, which melts better like Parmesan.

Low calorie Spicy spinach and artichoke dip Serves 4-5

Ingredients:

Spinach - 1/ 2 bag (frozen or fresh) if frozen thawed

Artichoke canned,chopped - 3 hearts

Garlic cloves,chopped - 2

Garlic powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)

Cayenne pepper - 1/4 tsp

Red chilly flakes - a pinch

Cheese grated - 1/3 cup

Salt to taste

For the white sauce or rue

Milk - 3/4 cup and little more if needed

Plain flour - 1 tbsp - 2 tbsp

Oil - 3 tsp

Method:

Heat pan and add 1 tsp of oil. Add the chopped garlic and the chopped artichoke and cook for 5 minutes until the artichoke is slightly browned. 

Add spinach and cook them for a couple of minutes until the spinach has wilted down.Remove them and squeeze the excess water from the spinach and artichoke and chop then.

Remove them from pan and using the same pan over medium heat add the other 2 tsp of oil, and 1 tbsp of plain flour and toss the flour around until the raw smell goes off and it becomes a paste and let it cook for 2 minute.

Add the milk and be sure to  dissolve the flour in the milk,and let it cook for 2 minutes. If the mixture is too watery add more flour or if too thick add a little more milk.

Be sure to cook the flour and dissolve it in the milk. add the garlic powder, cayenne pepper and chili flakes and mix.

Add the cheese and stir until it dissolves.Add salt and taste.

Add the chopped spinach and artichoke mixture and stir to combine.

Sprinkle cheese on top if needed and put it in the oven broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Enjoy with your favorite chips or crackers.