Slam dunk recipes for your Phoenix Suns watch party

Get your game face on with these mouthwatering, show-stopping, Phoenix Suns-inspired watch party recipes that boast equal parts flavor and color. There’s no need for food coloring when it comes to the home team’s colors. Yes, purple foods are obscure, but they exist. And orange foods, well, you can probably rattle off at least three right now. But these dishes weren’t crafted based on color alone. First and foremost, I concentrated on flavor. The purple and orange hues are simply a bonus. In the first dish, purple potatoes take center court. The little spuds are cut into wedges, tossed with olive oil, dusted with salt and black pepper and roasted to perfection. They’re delicious enough to stand on their own, but they’re catapulted with a creamy, orange-tinted fiesta dip that features cilantro, chives, garlic, lime and taco seasoning. The spuds are buttery in the middle and crisp on the outside and the dip “assist” is a refreshing burst of flavor. Next, we jumping into savory black bean dip with an assortment of purple and orange vegetables. The black bean dip is so unbelievably good, you’ll want to swish everything in it, from vegetables to crackers and chips. While it’s unlikely you’ll have leftovers, the dip also makes a great sandwich spread or filling for wraps, fajitas and burritos. Finally, buffalo chicken salad in orange cups is a complete slam dunk. Tender chunks of chicken are doused in a mayo and yogurt-based dressing that’s spiked with hot sauce and enlivened with purple cabbage, crunchy celery, onion and garlic. The heat level is completely customizable, so you can make it as fiery as you like. Here’s your game plan for flawless Phoenix Suns themed snacks for game day.

Questions or comments? Email the culinary team at cooking@azcentral.com.