White Bean Dip (Printable Page)

Velvety white beans blended with garlic, lemon, and olive oil create this creamy Mediterranean dip.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans

01 - 2 cups (15 oz can) white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed

→ Aromatics & Seasoning

02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for drizzling
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from approximately 1 lemon)
05 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Additions

07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or chives, chopped

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Place the drained white beans, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper into the bowl of a food processor or blender.
02 - Process the mixture until completely smooth and creamy, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the container with a spatula to ensure even incorporation.
03 - Taste the dip and modify the flavors as needed by incorporating additional lemon juice for brightness, salt for depth, or olive oil for richness.
04 - If desired, add ground cumin for earthy notes or fresh herbs for a bright finish, then pulse briefly to distribute evenly.
05 - Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, create a shallow well in the center, drizzle generously with olive oil, and garnish with chopped fresh herbs. Accompany with pita bread, raw vegetables, or crackers.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under ten minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry
  • The dip keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for several days, actually tasting better after the flavors meld
02 -
  • Canned beans can vary wildly in saltiness so always taste before adding more salt than called for
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together much more smoothly than cold straight from the refrigerator
03 -
  • If you want restaurant level smoothness, slip the skins off the beans before blending
  • A tablespoon of tahini transforms this into something reminiscent of hummus but lighter
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