7 Layer Mexican Dip

About 30 years ago we had a small party on a dock in South Jersey and hired a local caterer to put together a few starters for the gathering. One of the suggestions was a 4 layer Mexican dip. My reaction was negative but thankfully overridden by my wife who was the main organizer. She said I was a bid staid and was simply reacting because I didn’t know Mexican food or for a matter of fact knew no one of Mexican heritage. Both were true observation so I said OK. I agreed to go with the dip as my first tiny exposure to things Mexican.
I’m glad I agreed because the 4 layer was a hit and we have since made it our own through the years with additional layers and it is always a winner no matter the theme of our party. So you can be assured, if you use our 7 layer dip at your next event it will be well received and probably a real hit.

7 layer Mexican Dip

For starters here are the layers

1st. Back and Pinto Bean mixture( recipe follows below)
2nd. Guacamole
3rd Sliced green onions
4th. Sour Cream sprinkled with Chili powder
5th Diced fresh tomatoes
6th Sliced Black Olives
7th Mexican Cheese Blend, Shredded

Bean Mixture: Drain and rinse
1 can of black beans
1 can of pinto beans
Puree beans.
Then sauté ½ cup chopped yellow onion and 2 cloves of garlic in olive oil
Add pureed beans, ¼ cup chopped cilantro and 1 cup of picante sauce.
Simmer for 2-3 minutes then let cool

Preparation:
In a shallow bowl:
Spread the bean mixture
Top with prepared guacamole
Then sliced green onions
Next spread 1 cup sour cream and sprinkle with chili powder
Add a layer of diced fresh tomatoes
And sliced black olives
Finish with a generous sprinkled layer of shredded Mexican cheese blend

Serve with a combination of blue and white corn tortilla chips

Our serving bowl is a shallow 12 inch diameter solid green colored bowl with a brown lip. It has a Mexican or Native American appearance.
My knowledge of Mexican food has improved over the last 30 years and now living in Colorado has exposed us to the colorful culture of the folks that shared and were important participants in the settlement of this great part of America.