I stumbled upon this white bean dip during a frantic pre-party scramble last month. With just about five minutes and a handful of pantry staples, I created this creamy white bean dip that had guests scraping the bowl clean. Sometimes the simplest healthy appetizer dip recipes deliver the most satisfying results.
Quick White Bean Dip Success Tips
- The key to a stellar mostly 5-minute white bean dip lies in the details. I always rinse my beans twice. Drain the cans of beans. First, swirl them gently in a bowl of water then add to a colander and rinse under running water to remove the starchy liquid that can dilute the flavor.
- Start with less lemon juice than you think you need; you can always add more, but you cannot take it back.
- For the smoothest texture, let your food processor run longer than feels necessary. What seems smooth at first glance often has hidden lumps. I pulse first, then let it run continuously for 30 seconds.
- Temperature matters too. Room-temperature ingredients blend more seamlessly than cold ones straight from the fridge. Pull your lemon out 20 minutes before you start.
- To make this into a Mexican-style dip, replace the salt with ½ t of taco seasoning. Add more to taste, and add a dash of cumin if you want a heavy-hitting taco flavor.
Tools & Equipment
Creating this homemade white bean dip requires minimal equipment, but having the right tools makes the process smoother:
Essential:
- Food processor (7-cup capacity recommended)
- Can opener
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Medium bowl (for rinsing the beans)
- Measuring spoons
- Sharp paring knife (for garlic prep)
- Cutting board
- Rubber spatula (for scraping processor bowl)
- Serving bowl or dish
Steps to make White Bean Dip
A high-quality food processor transforms this healthy bean dip from chunky to silky in seconds. If you only have a blender, add the olive oil first to help the blades catch the beans.
Step 1: Get out your six ingredients. Make sure the lemon and beans are at room temp.
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Step 2: Add drained and rinsed beans to a food processor.
Step 3: Pulse to combine then run for 30 seconds longer. To get this super creamy, it will take longer to break down the beans than it appears.
Step 4: Scrape down the food processor and add the dip to a serving bowl.
Easy White Bean Dip
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Ingredients
- 15.5 oz can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 lemon juiced
- ½ t minced garlic
- ¼ t salt
- ½ t pepper
Instructions
- Drain the can of beans
- Add the drained beans to a medium bowl with fresh water. Swirl gently with your hand. Drain off into the sieve, then run cool water over the beans for a rinse.
- Place all ingredients into your food processor bowl.
- Pulse the mixture until it reaches a smooth, creamy white bean dip consistency, about 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer to your serving dish and serve immediately with vegetables, crackers, or pita chips, or cover and refrigerate for an hour or overnight to meld flavors.
The bottom line
This protein-rich appetizer proves that simple bean dip recipes often outshine complicated ones. Five ingredients, five minutes, and you have a Mediterranean white bean dip that works for weeknight snacks or weekend entertaining.
