Tag Archives: dips

Appetizers

Garlic Bean Spread

A vegan recipe for a savory spread or dip made from white cannellini beans, often known as white navy beans or haricots and in Mexico called alubias.

  • 2 heads garlic
  • 2 cups cooked white cannellini beans, drained (reserving liquid)
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Remove loose skins from garlic heads and place whole heads, root-side down, in a 350 F oven for 1-1/4 hours, or in microwave for about 5 minutes, until soft. Squeeze the soft garlic into a blender or food processor, discarding skins.

Add beans, oil, salt and cayenne. Blend until smooth.  If the mixture doesn’t blend easily, add a bit of the reserved bean liquid.  Refrigerate until ready to use. Serve as a spread for crackers or as a dip for veggies. Will store up to 3 weeks.

Separated garlic cloves can also be roasted in their skins in a cast iron pan on the stove top. Shake the cloves often while toasting so that they don’t burn. They’re ready when they are soft.

 

Appetizers

Garbanzo Dip (Hummus)

Garbanzo or chickpea dip is known as hummus, a Middle Eastern food that is eaten with pita bread and is rich in iron, vitamin B6,  and fiber. The proteins of the garbanzo beans and sesame seeds complement each other, making it a very nutritious food.

Ingredients for Garbanzo Dip (Hummus)

  • 2 cups cooked garbanzos/chick peas (reserve liquid)
  • 1/3 cup sesame tahini (sesame seed paste)
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2-3 T lemon or lime juice
  • 1/4 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/3 cup black olives, chopped (optional) or
  • 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil (optional)
  • 2 T olive oil (optional)

Blend or process garbanzos, sesame tahini, garlic, salt, lemon or lime juice, and seasonings until smooth, using some of the reserved liquid from the garbanzo beans if thinning is required. You want a paste that is thick and smooth, not runny.

For variety, try adding either the chopped black olives or chopped sun-dried tomatoes to your dip, although plain hummus is just plain good.

Chill. Drizzle the olive oil on top and serve with pita bread triangles, crackers, or as a dip for vegetable crudites such as celery sticks, carrot spears, and sliced red peppers. .
Garbanzo beans