Creamy White Bean and Roasted Garlic Dip

Ingredients

• 1 whole head garlic
• 2 tablespoons, divided olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
• 1/4 cup water, plus more as needed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, for garnish
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
• 1 cup carrot sticks, celery sticks, and sliced cucumber, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C).
2. Using a sharp knife, slice about 1/4 inch off the top of the garlic head so the tops of the individual cloves are just exposed.
3. Place the garlic head cut side up on a small sheet of foil, drizzle with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, and wrap the foil around it loosely to seal.
4. Roast the wrapped garlic directly on the oven rack or on a small baking sheet for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cloves are soft enough to pierce easily with a fork and are golden brown; let cool for 10 minutes before unwrapping, since the foil packet will be very hot.
5. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze the garlic head over a bowl so the soft roasted cloves pop out; discard the papery skins.
6. Add the roasted garlic, drained white beans, tahini, lemon juice, the remaining 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, water, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender.
7. Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides once, until the dip is completely smooth with no visible bean chunks; it should fall easily off a spoon.
8. If the dip seems too thick to scoop easily, add water 1 tablespoon at a time and blend again until it reaches a soft, spreadable consistency.
9. Taste and add more salt or lemon juice if needed, then blend for another 10 seconds to combine.
10. Spoon the dip into a shallow serving bowl and use the back of the spoon to create a swirl on top.
11. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil and sprinkle with smoked paprika and chopped parsley.
12. Serve immediately with carrot sticks, celery sticks, and cucumber slices, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Tips

Why You'll Love This

• Naturally creamy from beans instead of heavy cream or mayo
• High in plant protein and fiber from the white beans
• Only 5 minutes of hands-on prep beyond the garlic roasting

Nutrition

Nutrition values are estimated per serving based on the ingredients used.