
White Bean Dip

Be the first to Write a Review
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Transforming dried beans into a puree is a simple process that calls for gentle simmering, followed by a short stint in a food processor. The final mixture must be smooth, light and moist so that the chip, toast or other accompaniment holds up under the weight of the dip.
- 187
Ingredients:
For the bean dip:
- 1 cup dried white beans, such as Great Northern
beans or cannellini beans - 4 shallots, 3 to 4 oz. total
- 5 3⁄4 cups low-sodium chicken stock or water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 small bunch fresh chives
- 4 to 6 fresh chervil sprigs
- 2 or 3 fresh tarragon sprigs
- 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1⁄2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tomato
- 2 or 3 fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
For serving:
- Pita chips or crudités, such as fluted cucumber
slices, blanched green or yellow beans, or
red bell pepper sticks

Wine Pairing
This pairs well with soft, medium-bodied white wines like the Diemersdal MM Louw Sauvignon Blanc, Durbanville from our Wine Club.Directions:
Soak the beansPlace the beans in a large colander. Sort through the beans and discard any that are wrinkled or blemished, along with any pebbles or grit. Rinse the beans well under running cold water and transfer them to a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Let the beans soak in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or up to overnight. As the beans rehydrate, they will soften and expand, which speeds their cooking. Discard any husks that float to the top of the water. Drain the beans in the colander and rinse the pan.
Finely dice the shallots
Cut the shallots in half lengthwise and peel each half. One at a time, place the shallot halves, cut side down, on the cutting board. Alternately make a series of lengthwise cuts, parallel cuts, then crosswise cuts to create 1D8-inch dice. Be sure to stop just short of the root end; this holds the shallot half together as you cut.
Cook the beans
Return the beans to the saucepan. Add the chicken stock, diced shallots and bay leaf. Place over high heat, cover and bring the stock to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. As soon as you see bubbles start to form, reduce the heat to a level where small bubbles occasionally break the surface of the liquid. Partially cover the pot and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the beans taste creamy in the center and are completely tender, 45 to 55 minutes. (If the beans are not new crop, that is, harvested within the last year, they may take longer to cook.)
Snip the chives and mince the herbs
While the beans are simmering, prepare the herbs. First, snip the chives: Using kitchen scissors, snip the chive blades into tiny pieces. Measure out 2 Tbs. snipped chives. Then, mince the chervil: Remove the leaves from the chervil sprigs and discard the stems. Gather the leaves into a small pile. Holding down the knife tip with one hand, chop the chervil, moving the blade up and down in a rhythmic motion until the leaves are uniformly chopped into very fine pieces, or minced. Measure out 2 Tbs. minced chervil. Repeat to mince the tarragon and measure out 1 Tbs.
Coarsely puree the bean mixture
When the beans are cooked, drain them through a sieve set over a large bowl to reserve the cooking liquid. Discard the bay leaf. Transfer 2D3 cup of the beans to a bowl and set aside. Transfer the remaining beans to a food processor. Using brief pulses, process the beans until they are coarsely pureed, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Finely puree the bean mixture
With the food processor motor running, slowly pour 1D2 cup of the reserved cooking liquid through the feed tube. Stop the machine and check the puree; it should be thin and light but thick enough to hold its shape. Add a little more of the liquid if necessary. Reserve the remaining liquid for another use. Now, process the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes more, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until a fine puree forms. With the processor running, drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice through the feed tube. Then, use the rubber spatula to scrape the puree into a bowl.
Add the whole beans and remaining seasonings
Add the reserved whole beans, chives, chervil, tarragon and salt to the puree. Stir well with the rubber spatula. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or up to overnight to allow the flavors to develop.
Bring the bean mixture to room temperature
Remove the bean mixture from the refrigerator about 2 hours before serving to bring it to room temperature. The flavors will be most pronounced after the chill has faded.
Prepare the tomato
First, seed the tomato: Cut the tomato in half crosswise through its "equator." Hold each tomato half over a bowl and use a finger to scoop out the seed sacs and any excess liquid. Discard the seed sacs and liquid. Then, dice the tomato: Using a chefs knife, cut out the core if necessary. One at a time, place a tomato half, cut side down, on a cutting board and cut into slices 1D8 inch thick. Stack 2 or 3 slices at a time on their sides and cut into 1D8-inch strips. Finally, cut the strips crosswise into 1D8-inch dice. Stir three-fourths of the diced tomato into the bean dip.
Adjust the seasonings
Taste the dip. It should taste primarily of the white beans, with accents of the herbs and lemon juice. If you feel it tastes dull, stir in a small amount of salt and lemon juice until you are happy with the flavor balance. You can also add a touch more of the minced herbs if you like a stronger herbal flavor.
Serve the dip
Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining diced tomato. Mince the parsley and sprinkle on top. Accompany with pita crisps or with a platter of crudités. Serve immediately. Makes about 3 cups; serves 6 to 8.
Chef's Tips: When chopping and mincing herbs, be sure to dry the rinsed herbs completely before you start to cut them. A salad spinner is a good tool to use. Wet herbs are frustrating to work with because they stick to the knife.
Bean dips are the perfect hors doeuvres to make in advance, especially since you need to soak the beans overnight. Consider making the dip 2 or even 3 days before your party to give the flavors extra time to develop. Be sure you dont add the tomato garnish until just before serving. Tomatoes turn mealy when refrigerated.
If you don't have time to soak beans overnight, try this shortcut: Put the beans in a deep pot, add water to cover by 3 to 4 inches and bring to a simmer. Remove the pot from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and proceed with the recipe, starting with the paragraph that says, "Finely dice the shallots."
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Mastering Series, Hors dOeuvres, by Jan Weimer (Simon & Schuster, 2005).
» There is no room for development by relying on the World Bank
» The House of Representatives holds a session on Tuesday to vote on the budget
» Southern Refineries employees warn of a plot to sell the company to the private sector
» Two sources: OPEC + is working on a new agreement that includes baselines and cuts
» A legal expert explains the extent of the powers of the Finance Committee and its procedures regardi
» Iraqi Foreign Ministry: We discussed in all our international meetings the suffering of the Syrian p
» The framework accuses three Western embassies of supporting homosexuality in Iraq
» Independent deputy for / Nina /: The budget will be approved within days, despite the Democratic Par
» Today's newspapers are following the budget and the government's measures to deal with water scarcit
» Independent deputy for / Nina /: The budget will be approved within days, despite the Democratic Par
» Parliamentarian: The undisclosed share of the region reaches 18%
» The "greed" of oil companies deepens Iraq's water and environmental wounds
» In the currency auction.. The Central Bank sells more than 225 million dollars
» The Central Bank: Efforts to accelerate the use of electronic payment and its dissemination
» A British report holds oil companies responsible for water scarcity in Iraq
» Iraq's oil exports to America decreased for the third week in a row
» Housing announces the provision of housing units for the middle classes
» Iraq's financial revenues from its oil exports decreased by 5% in a month
» Stability of dollar prices in Baghdad
» Iraq will not reduce its production, as the OPEC Plus coalition decided to reduce one million barrel
» Al-Araji discusses with Egyptian and Saudi officials common files and developments in the situation
» There are many appointments and the budget is absent.. Al-Mandalawi reveals a new date
» The Central Bank of Iraq expands electronic payment operations
» Integrity controls corruption worth 41 million dollars in Basra
» Representatives of the Kurdistan region are required to return 4 billion dinars to the public treasu
» Al-Sudanese political advisor: Iraq was the focal point of the Iranian-Saudi spending
» Transport discloses the revenues of ports and berths: We achieved 200 billion dinars
» The Iraqi-Saudi Coordinating Council.. A Path Toward Integration
» Justice: Procedures that limit the forgery of real estate
» 3 files between Iraq and Turkey in Erdogan's new mandate
» The breath of the Tigris and Euphrates suffocates with pollution
» The abundance of wheat pushes the Ministry of Commerce to open new marketing centers
» Expectations of a near breakthrough in the budget file
» Affordable housing units
» Fears of population growth: economic crises occur
» SOMO reveals the average price of oil exported to Jordan
» Experts call for offering {the path of development} to foreign investment
» Foreign Minister: Iraq used to be a corridor for drug traffic and is now consuming it
» Referred to American, European and Arab companies... delaying projects worth 41 million dollars in B
» They described it as "incapacitating" .. Iraqis criticize the mechanisms of a government bank to buy
» Stability of dollar exchange rates in Baghdad markets
» Iraq's oil exports to America decreased within a week
» The government: The "development path" dates back to the royal era... and its implementation began i
» Electricity loses 6 thousand megawatts due to the reduction of large quantities of Iranian gas
» The Minister of Commerce announces the results of the electronic update of the ration card in Najaf
» OPEC is discussing the next oil policy steps.. Will demand concerns drive a production cut?
» For today, Sunday.. the exchange rates of the dollar in the Iraqi markets
» It is expected that it will be for salaries only! .. Find out the latest developments in the budget
» The Central Bank talks about the generalization of the electronic payment project
» Deputy: The Kurds reject any amendments to the region's budget, and it is likely that they will be a
» Mr. Al-Hakim: A will to pass the budget and the development path project will align the interests of
» Governor of Basra: The Prime Minister personally supervises the file of gas investment and combating
» Finance announces the start of applying the unified treasury account during the current month
» "I have reached the point of litigation" .. Iraq is taking measures against Internet companies with
» Emaar: Requiring investors to sell housing units at "reasonable prices"
» Al-Sudani and the Italian Ambassador discuss the "Greater Iraq Project"
» Sudanese advisor expects to vote on the budget within less than 10 days
» The price of oil “threatens” the tripartite budget!
» Environment Minister Nizar Amidi announces the initiation of the electronic collection system (POS)
» Militia Man & Crew u-tube Big Weekend for Iraq - USA
» The New President Of The World Bank Takes Over
» Report: Al-Sudani is shackled, with no budget or government amendments on the horizon
» China resolves the Iraqi debate over the "Silk" and "Development" roads
» Prior to the 'OPEC' meeting.. the Saudi energy minister meets with his counterparts from the UAE, Ku
» Reuters: Iran is about to form a maritime alliance with Gulf countries to 'ensure regional stability
» Report: Al-Sudani is shackled, with no budget or government amendments on the horizon
» Iraq boosts its reserves of "precious metal"
» Western oil companies are making billions from southern Iraq and throwing pollution and drought on i
» Communications reveal a new policy for the work of Internet companies in Iraq
» Criticism of Al-Rafidain housing loans, describing them as "incapacitating"
» Parliamentary Finance explains to {Euphrates News} the fact that the budget has lost its economic fe
» Sudanese advisor determines the proportion of public expenditures of the gross domestic product
» For more than 8,000 borrowers, Al-Rafidain Bank releases returns
» Investment marks 60 lagging projects and withdraws more than a hundred investment licenses in Salah
» It includes Iraq and Saudi Arabia.. Iran announces the imminent formation of a military coalition wi
» Parliamentary oil accuses Erbil of smuggling oil through fictitious companies
» Al-Fateh: The Kurds' demands for the budget are "illogical"
» Rights: Al-Halbousi's dismissal is inevitable
» Calls for events rejecting the interventions of the American ambassador in Iraq
» The Minister of Health directs the preparation of a plan to estimate the needs for medicines and med
» Deputy for Dhi Qar: We will not vote on the budget without conditions
» Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee: Erbil circumvents Baghdad's decisions to change the names of oi
» Iraq and Kuwait are discussing the work of the technical and legal committee concerned with the dema
» Legal expert: Investment projects should focus on the housing crisis according to a constitutional a
» Trade: Opening new marketing centers to absorb the marketed quantities of wheat
» Economist for / NINA /: The delay in approving the budget will cause a delay in the completion of im
» Deputy: Two disagreements impede the approval of the budget
» Paying dues for Iranian gas exports causes a problem with America and threatens Iraq's electricity p
» Politician: Iraq has its own cards to obtain its water rights
» Preferring a date for approving the budget law
» An economist reveals the huge losses in Iraqi oil revenues during the current year
» Al-Sudani's advisor reveals the importance of the electronic payment experience: it reduces transact
» The North Company reveals the destinations of Kirkuk oil after stopping its export to Turkey
» The Arab Monetary Fund expects moderate growth for the Iraqi economy in 2023
» For less than 12 dollars... Iraq reveals the average price of oil exported to Jordan
» The Central Bank of Iraq sells more than one billion and 270 million dollars within a week
» Parliamentary Finance expects to settle the budget differences between Baghdad and Erbil through "mi
» Sudanese advisor: IMF experts report "very pessimistic"