White Bean Spread With Crudite Recipes

WHITE BEAN DIP 3 WAYS

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in the base of a blender or food processor.
• Pulse a few times, then scrape down the sides of the blender and pulse until creamy and smooth. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary. Transfer to a bowl and top with garnish.
• Serve with toasted baguette or your favourite vegetables.

WHITE BEAN DIP

Steps:

• For the beans: Put the beans in a bowl and cover with cold water by 3 inches above the top of the beans. Let soak overnight.
• Strain the beans, discarding the soaking liquid. Place them in a pot and cover with water by 3 inches above the top of the beans. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and let cook until the beans are tender, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes. Strain and let cool.
• For the dip: Bring 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon olive oil to a boil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and a pinch of salt and simmer until the water reduces down and the onions become translucent and tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the beans and heat until they become warm.
• Meanwhile, add the Worcestershire, vinegar, garlic powder, paprika, hot sauce, 4 tablespoons olive oil and some salt to a food processor. Transfer the bean mixture to the food processor. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and another pinch of salt. Puree the beans until smooth. Add more oil if needed for taste or texture. Taste for seasoning. Serve with vegetables or crackers.

WHITE BEAN-ARTICHOKE SPREAD WITH BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill.
• Begin by peeling 2 of the artichokes until you get to the hearts. Saute the artichokes in a medium size skillet with olive oil, shallots, thyme, and the white beans on medium high heat for 10 minutes or until softened. Place mixture into a blender and add remaining ingredients, and pulse until all ingredients are blended.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot.
• To make the crisp artichokes, simply cut the tough leaves around the artichokes until you reach the heart, keeping part of the stem. Cut into quarters, toss lightly in flour, and fry until crisp in the oil. Remove from pan, and drain on paper towels.
• To make the balsamic reduction, simply put the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan on high heat, and reduce down to almost a syrup consistency. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature.
• To serve, grill 4 slices of sourdough bread rubbed with olive oil. Place on a serving plate. Top each slice with a few arugula leaves. Lightly spread a spoonful of the pureed artichoke mixture on the bread, and then top with crisp artichoke pieces. Drizzle a little balsamic reduction around bruschetta, and season with salt and pepper.

WARM SPINACH-WHITE BEAN DIP WITH CRUDITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the dip: Wash spinach, leaving some water clinging to the leaves. Transfer to a large saucepan. Cover, and steam spinach over medium heat, stirring once, until wilted, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove spinach using a slotted spoon, and let cool. Squeeze out excess liquid using a kitchen towel; coarsely chop.
• Pulse ricotta and cannellini beans in a food processor until smooth. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl. Add chives, lemon zest, and salt. Season with pepper. Stir in spinach. Transfer to a 1-quart baking dish.
• Bake until bubbling, about 30 minutes. Season with pepper. Serve warm with crudites.

WINTER CRUDITéS

Steps:

• PLAN AHEAD
• If serving crudités at a party, plan on 1/8 to 1/4 pound of vegetables for each guest. The selection shown here is a suggestion; feel free to vary the vegetables as desired and by season. Some vegetables (celery and carrots) can be served raw; others should be steamed.
• Prepare to Steam
• Set a steamer basket (or a colander) in a Dutch oven (or a pot with a lid). Fill with enough salted water to come just below basket, and bring to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath; place a colander inside, over the ice. Line a baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels.
• steam vegetables
• Working with one kind at a time, steam vegetables, starting with the mildest-tasting and ending with the most pungent (this will keep potatoes, for example, from tasting like Brussels sprouts). Place vegetables in the basket; reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, and steam as directed. Add water to pan as needed between batches to prevent scorching.
• cool and drain
• With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to the colander in the ice-water bath to stop cooking (add ice as needed after each batch). Once completely cooled, transfer vegetables to paper towels to drain. Pat dry.
• Store
• Vegetables can be prepared up to 3 days ahead; wrap each type of vegetable separately in paper towels, then plastic (so flavors don't mix), and refrigerate.
• Serve
• Arrange on a platter with dip alongside.
• Lemon-Thyme Dip
• In a bowl, stir to combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Dip can be refrigerated, covered tightly with plastic wrap, up to 3 days; transfer to a small dish and garnish with additional thyme just before serving.