Spicy Black Bean Dip Recipe

When it comes to jazzing up an event, some form of dip is usually involved in the food lineup. There's just something fun about gathering around a delicious dip with accouterments and family and friends. If you're looking for a flavorful dip with a little kick, look no further than this spicy black bean dip. 

Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe and says, "This dip is one of my favorites because you can whip it up in five minutes and it tastes ultra fresh. I love making my own dips because you can control the ingredients. Everything in here is actually good for you which means you can eat as much as you want without limitation. Sometimes I use it layered on warmed tostada shells with fresh tomatoes and lettuce for a quick weeknight dinner." If you are feeling extra ambitious you can serve it with these homemade chili lime tortilla chips.

To make this recipe, we'll need a few pantry staples — black beans, cumin, and salt. Our fresh factor in this dip will be due to a few flavorful produce items. Pick up some cilantro, red onion, garlic, jalapeños, and a few limes or some bottled lime juice. "I've used 2 jalapeños in this recipe, and you can dial the heat up or down by using more or less. I usually try and find large jalapeños because they are a little milder but offer lots of zippy flavor, and I definitely remove the seeds to tame things down. If you want to use a serrano pepper to really heat things up, that's an option too," Hahn shares.

To start off, let's rinse the black beans well and drain them in a colander. Then pull out a cutting board and chop the cilantro, onion, garlic, and jalapeños. "I use a small paring knife to remove the ribs and seeds of the jalapeño. No need to spend too much time chopping because it's all going to get blended in the food processor. 

Now that we have everything prepped and ready to go, pull out a large food processor. Add the beans, cilantro, 2 tablespoons red onion, garlic, ½ of the diced jalapeños, lime juice, cumin, and salt. Reserve the remaining jalapeño and red onion for serving. Now blend until the mixture is smooth. This should take about 2 minutes and you may need to use a spatula to scrape down the sides and blend again.

Just like that, your dip is done and the fresh flavors will be fragrantly filling your kitchen. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and bring on the chips or veggies for dipping. Whether you're a die-hard fan of spicy foods or just looking to add some excitement to your appetizer spread, this dip is calling your name!