Creamy Hummus and White Bean Dip With Roasted Garlic and Rosemary

These are two of my all time favourite recipes for your basic hummus and white bean dip. Both of these dips are classic dips/spreads that always make it on my charcuterie or veggie platters. Actually I make the hummus quite often as I love it for snacking on with veggies and crisps or slathering it on a sandwich too. It turns out so creamy every time and is so flavourful.

How to make smooth and creamy hummus

Let’s talk specifically about the hummus first. I’m a firm believer that to make a fabulously creamy hummus - like next level creaminess, you must make it from dry chickpeas as opposed to canned. Do not get me wrong I still make it with canned when I want to make it in a pinch but for a truly creamy one I plan ahead and soak my beans to make from dry. It makes a lot of difference in texture and flavour. To make it even creamier still and if you have the patience for it, once you cook your chickpeas, separate and remove the chickpea skins. This is a lot of work but for an ultra silky smooth hummus it’s worth it – if you have the time and patience. I have only done this once for experimental purposes. Never again - this is creamy enough for me. I neither have the time or patience to remove the skins. I love this Bon Appetit recipe for the fact that the flavours are distinct and fabulous but mellow. The garlic isn’t pungent. It’s there giving flavour but not overpowering thanks to the fact that it’s whizzed in the processor first with the lemon juice and then strained. It’s just the yummiest hummus - you will love it.

Why soak your chickpeas?

Chickpeas are soaked before boiling for two reasons – one, they need to be plumped up and softened before they boil, and two, pre-soaking helps to make the beans more digestible. Although this takes a little planning, it makes all the difference. When I haven soaked mine or only soaked them for a couple of hours - they take a lot longer to cook.

Why add baking soda to your Chickpeas while they soak and cook?

There is a science behind it. It increasing the pH and the alkalinity of soaking water and it speeds up the disintegration of pectin, allowing the beans to soften faster. The upside of this is that the beans will cook quicker and more evenly. It also makes them easier to peel if you plan on peeling them.

Perfect white bean dip recipe

Ok so now let’s chat about this white bean dip. I know, I know - I didn’t use dried beans for this one, but you can if you want a creamy dreamy dip. When it comes to the white bean dip I don’t mind a bit of body to it so I love the recipe from Food52. It turns out perfect every time loaded with flavour from the roasted garlic and the rosemary. The roasted garlic is a must - it gives it that wonderful sweet garlic nutty flavour instead of a hard pungent hit of it if you used raw. You just can’t beat the flavours of roasted garlic. The rosemary also gets blended into the mix so you really get the flavour of it. It’s simple it’s delicious and just so good with the veggies but also great with pita chips too.

So there you go! I recently took this to an anniversary/slash go away party for my brother In law and his wife specifically thinking of my mother in law who is vegan and sometimes at events like that there aren’t too many grazing boards or appetisers that don’t involve cheese in them. You really can’t go wrong with a platter like this for any diet. And to my surprise there were actually more than a handful of vegans there that night so it was well enjoyed. It seems a few had recently watched The Game Changers and were enlightened. Expect more and more to be and bring this hummus and bean dip to your next gathering!

For the Hummus

Makes approx 2-3 cups

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried chickpeas
• 2 teaspoons baking soda, divided
• 4 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice plus more according to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more according to taste
• ⅔ cup tahini
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin plus more according to taste
• Olive oil (for serving)

Directions

1. Place chickpeas and 1 tsp. baking soda in a medium bowl and add cold water to cover by 2”. Cover and let sit at room temperature until chickpeas have doubled in size, 8–12 hours. I usually soak mine overnight. Drain and rinse.
2. Combine soaked chickpeas and remaining 1 tsp. baking soda in a large saucepan and add cold water to cover by at least 2”. Bring to a boil, skimming surface as needed. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer until chickpeas are tender and completely falling apart, 45–60 minutes. (The longer they have soaked - the less time they need to cook to soften). Once done drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, process garlic, lemon juice, and 1 tsp. salt in a food processor until coarsely puréed; let sit 10 minutes to allow garlic to mellow.
4. Strain garlic mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl, pressing on solids to release as much liquid as possible. Return liquid to food processor and discard solids. Add tahini and pulse to combine. Pour in ¼ cup ice water by the tablespoonful through the opening and process (it may seize up at first) until mixture is very smooth, pale, and thick. Add chickpeas and cumin and process, occasionally scraping down sides, until mixture is extremely smooth, about 4 minutes. Thin with more water if you prefer a looser consistency; taste and season with salt, more lemon juice, and more cumin as desired.
5. Spoon hummus into a shallow bowl, making a well in the centre, and drizzle liberally with oil. Top with various chickpeas, chopped parsley or even just a sprinkle of paprika or extra cumin will do.

For Instant Pot cooking directions:

1. Soak chickpeas overnight as directed. Drain and rinse then place in instant pot with 4 cups of water and cook on HIGH for 5 minutes and then natural release for 20 minutes.  

For the White Bean Dip

Makes approx 1.5-2 cups

Ingredients

• One 15-19 ounce can of white beans
• 2 teaspoons minced rosemary plus more for garnish
• 2½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling on after
• 4 cloves of roasted garlic
• salt & pepper to taste
• roasted garlic
• 1 whole garlic bulb

Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400°F. Remove the papery outer layer of garlic without taking apart the bulb. Cut-off the top fifth of the bulb, exposing the inside of the cloves.
2. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap in aluminium foil, and seal it closed. Cook for 40 minutes, or until a fork can easily pass through.
3. In a food processor, add rinsed beans, roasted garlic, lemon, olive oil, cumin, rosemary, salt and pepper to taste and pulse mix to a smooth consistency.
4. Transfer to a shallow serving bowl, smooth-out with the backside of spoon, dress with olive oil and rosemary.