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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Rustic Sun-dried Tomato White Bean Dip is complete!

I finally finished experimentation on this dip!  It took me a good 4 tries to get it right.  But finally it is MMM-mmm tasty!!  You like my fancy little piece of garnish in the picture?  It helps to offset the fact that the picture is taken in a less than desirably lit location, on a white sheet of paper, rather than a fancy square dinner plate.  (Although maybe I should consider getting a square white plate just for food pictures, as I LOVE the square look.)


So as promised, here is the recipe.


Rustic Sun-dried Tomato White Bean Dip

Rustic Sun-dried Tomato White Bean Dip

2 cans (or 3 cups cooked) white beans - my preferred choice is Great Northern Bean
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp tahini
1-2 medium cloves garlic (depending on love for garlic)
1/2tsp agave nectar
1 1/4 tsp salt
heaping 1/4 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
1 tsp dried parsley
3/4-1c dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes*
1/4 tsp paprika

Follow directions on package to soak dehydrated sundried tomato strips in hot water.  Blend first 9 ingredients in the food processor until nice and creamy.  Add paprika and rehydrated tomatoes to processor and blend till desired texture.

*Notes: I have started using the dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes (which can generally be found in the produce section in a little baggy), instead of the oil-packed tomatoes because it is just one more easy way to cut back on some fat.  I found that the oil-packed tomatoes were just too difficult to wipe free of oil (duh - seems like a no brainer), and while I am careful to make sure that my family does consume daily amounts of fat, there are much healthier fats to consume than the oil packed around sun-dried tomatoes.  Also, the typical diet generally contains too much fat, so this is just an easy way to get rid of a little bit.  But do note that the dehydrated sun-dried tomatoes must be rehydrated in boiling water first!

Also note that I threw the paprika and tomatoes in at the end because I wanted to keep a little chunk to the sun-dried tomatoes instead of totally pureeing them, and the more the paprika gets processed, the more the dips starts to look just like a bowl of refried beans.  So those two ingredients I process less for texture appeal and visual appeal.

Let me know what you think!

Have you been experimenting with any tasty recipes lately you want to share?

6 comments:

  1. I've been experimenting with healthier recipes...but most of them have been decidedly NOT tasty...maybe I'll just stick with stealing yours...

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  2. Ooh, I feel pressure now! I hope some of my recipes live up to the Jaime standard! :)

    Some healthy recipes really ARE just that terrible, that's for sure. Some are actually quite good, but it's hard to recognize when comparing them to cheesy lasagna, or steak or ice cream. :) Happy hunting for tasty, healthy recipes! I'll keep posting ones I find (or make) if you'll pass on any good ones you find! :-)

    P.S. I LOVE seeing pictures of Lucy on FB! She is a doll! I feel like I'm staring at Jason every time I look at her pics! :)

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  3. this sounds awesome! I used to change up my hummus by using white beans instead and this would be fab!

    Steph

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  4. Thanks Steph! I love feedback, so if you get a moment to try it, let me know what you think - good or bad! :)

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  5. No kidding! I have cheesy lasagna in my fridge right now (Jason's favorite) and it's amazingly delicious...and depressing b/c I'm pretty sure the pan of it weighed at least 6 lbs! And healthy foods just can't compare to the taste...*sigh* oh well.

    We're trying your bean burgers this weekend, so we'll see how those go over =) I have high hopes!

    PS: I'm glad you like Lucy pictures, I Love taking them...I think it might qualify as a hobby. or an obsession =)

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  6. Awesome! The bean burgers really are one of our favorites! Just make sure Jason knows to expect nothing like a meat burger - texture especially. That can really throw people off because they have certain taste and texture expectations. Texture was huge for William initially. He could recognize something tasty for what it was, but if he expected it to feel like meat or feel like cheese and wasn't, that was what turned him off.

    Be sure to top with guacamole and make some creole potato wedges with it! That really turns it into a "burger and fries" meal. :)

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