Mediterranean Diet Friendly White Bean Dip with Rosemary
Creamy, fragrant, and impossibly easy to pull together, this white bean dip is the kind of appetizer that disappears fast at any gathering. Cannellini beans get blended with garlicky rosemary-infused olive oil, bright lemon juice, a touch of zest, and a whisper of cumin — the result is silky, savory, and deeply satisfying. The trick of gently cooking the garlic and rosemary in olive oil before blending is what sets this apart from a basic pantry dip; it coaxes out a mellow, almost buttery depth that raw garlic simply can't deliver. Extra virgin olive oil does double duty here, both in the blend and as a finishing drizzle, which is exactly the kind of ingredient this way of eating celebrates. Legumes, fresh herbs, citrus, and quality oil are pillars of the Mediterranean approach, and this recipe leans into all of them without any compromise. Serve it with warm pita, crudités, or crusty bread and let the optional red pepper flakes add just enough heat to keep things interesting. It's the rare dip that feels both effortlessly casual and genuinely impressive.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2–3 tbsp water
For serving
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is softened and just golden at the edges and the rosemary is fragrant, about 3–4 minutes. Watch closely, as the garlic can brown quickly. Remove from heat and let cool for 2 minutes.
- 2
Transfer the garlic-rosemary oil to a food processor. Add the cannellini beans, lemon juice, lemon zest, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Process until the mixture begins to come together, about 30 seconds.
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