In February, Californian plant-based food brand Hodo launched a new range of creamy soy-based dips, featuring three flavors — Chili Crisp, Sambal Sweet Chili, and Zesty Lemon.
Hodo recently attended Expo West, where it asked booth visitors to sample each dip and choose their favorite. Chili Crisp came out on top, and was praised for its taste, versatility, and spiciness. Inspired by Sichuan cuisine, the dip is made from shallots, chili flakes, Sichuan peppercorns, and shiitake mushrooms.
“When it comes to trending flavors, Chili Crisp is hot,” said Hodo founder and CEO Minh Tsai.
Sambal Sweet Chili was the runner-up, followed by Zesty Lemon. Made with organic, non-GMO soy, all three dips are protein-rich, nutrient-dense, and free of dairy, nuts, and gluten. They are said to be ideal for snacking or as a sandwich spread, salad topping, or cooking sauce.
According to Hodo, soybeans are more sustainable than the ingredients typically used to make plant-based dips, which include chickpeas, almonds, and cashews. They require less than a tenth of the water that almonds do, while providing the highest usable grams of protein per acre of any crop.
About Hodo
Hodo started out twenty years ago as a farmers’ market stall. It was founded by Vietnamese refugee Minh Tsai, who decided to offer foods from his home country that were difficult to find locally. In 2005, Minh partnered with businessman John Notz, who helped the company to expand. Hodo products are now available US-wide at major retailers and restaurant chains, including Whole Foods, Target, Sprouts, and Chipotle.
The brand offers a range of tofu products, meat alternatives such as nuggets and burgers, and soy milks. In 2022, Hodo launched the Vegan All Day Egg Scramble, a soy-based alternative to scrambled eggs.
“Just one taste and you’ll be surprised,” said Minh Tsai, speaking about the new dips. “Chili Crisp is having a moment and our Sambal Sweet Chili dip is next level. These bold flavors will wake up your taste buds and creativity! I enjoy these dips with everything, from crudites to crackers, salads to sandwiches, they just make everything taste better.”
The dips are now available at Whole Foods stores US-wide.
