Herb Artichoke White Bean Dip Food

LEMONY ARTICHOKE WHITE BEAN DIP

Steps:

• Place drained, rinsed white beans in a food processor (or use a Vita mix- for ultra-creamy!), add garlic, drained aritchoke hearts, tahini paste, salt, pepper and 2/3 rds of the lemon zest. Add 1 tabblespoon olive oil and 3-4 tablespoons of the marinade ( start with 3) and puree until ultra-smooth. In a food processor, this may take up to 2 minutes! You want this as creamy as possible.
• Taste and adjust salt, adding more to taste. For a "looser" dip, add a little more marinade, a tablespoon at a time.
• Spoon Artichoke dip into medium-sized shallow bowl and with the back of a spoon, swirl a circular "well" into it, where the olive oil will go. See photos.
• Drizzle a couple tablespoons olive oil into the "well", sprinkle with chili flakes snf scatter with fresh herbs and the remaining lemon zest.
• Serve with crackers, veggies, chips, or toasty pita bread.

ROASTED GARLIC AND WHITE BEAN DIP WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Roast the garlic: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel off most of the garlic's outermost skin but leave the whole head intact. Trim about 1/4 inch off the top of the garlic to expose the cloves. Place the garlic on a large piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil over the exposed cloves and close the foil into a pouch. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until you can pierce the center of the head with a knife. Let cool slightly.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into the bowl of a food processor. Add the white beans, 4 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary leaves, black pepper, cayenne (if using), hot water and salt. Purée until smooth, then taste for salt, pepper, rosemary and lemon juice. Adjust as necessary. Transfer to a serving dish.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the remaining rosemary sprig - it should sizzle. Cook until brown and crisp, flipping once, about 1 minute per side, then transfer to the top of the dip as a garnish. Pour or spoon the remaining olive oil, now infused with rosemary, over the top of the dip. Sprinkle with cayenne for a little additional heat.

WHITE BEAN AND ARTICHOKE DIP

Steps:

• Place garlic and rosemary in a food processor and finely chop. Add lemon juice and blend. Add beans and artichoke hearts and puree until smooth, stopping the machine a few times to scrape down the sides. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with carrot and celery sticks and/or pita bread (not potato chips!). Dip will keep refrigerated for 2 to 3 days.