A delicious and highly versatile dip from Fallon & Byrne

What is it?

Fallon & Byrne Cashel Blue cheese, sour cream and chive dip (€5.50/180g. Two for €10).

What’s good about it?

Summer is when a good dip comes into its own, and this is one of the best I have tasted. It has a strong blue cheese flavour and a light creamy consistency, with plenty of fresh chopped chives to balance the cheese. Despite being a fresh product, requiring refrigeration, it has a relatively long shelf life.

How do I use it?

The obvious choice is to serve it with hot sauce chicken wings. It is also good with crudités. Any selection of crunchy, raw vegetables works well, but it is particularly good with slices of red pepper and cucumber and carrot batons. I have also used it as a dressing for a platter of grilled vegetables, as a sauce on the side with steak, and spooned it generously over a baked potato. Its versatility is one of its best qualities.

Where can I get it?

You will find this one in the chill cabinets at Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer Street in Dublin 2 and online at fallonandbyrne.com. However, it is easy to make at home. Just mash some ripe Cashel Blue and mix in sour cream and yoghurt or mayonnaise to taste. You can loosen it with a little milk if it is too thick.

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Rhubarb and strawberry hand pies

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[ Gorgeous spiced sausages that are 96% Irish pork ]

Anything else?

If you are picking this up in store, be sure to add a tub of Fallon & Byrne paté from the same section. It is one of the best I have tasted, and the two-for-€10 offer brings the cost down.

[ A really great quality frozen pizza, streets ahead of the competition ]

Send your Shelf Help product suggestions to marieclaire.digby@irishtimes.com