White Bean Hummus

Name: White Bean Hummus
Yield: makes about 4 cups
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (about 1/4 recipe) Garlic Confit (p. 193); 1 garlic clove; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more or less, as desired); 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini or other white beans, drained and rinsed; 1/2 cup tahini; 1/4 cup water; 1 tablespoon sherry wine vinegar; 2-4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 or 2 tablespoons oil from Garlic Confit

December 14, 2011

In this hummus recipe, I use white Italian beans instead of chickpeas for a Mediterranean twist on the Middle Eastern classic. Luscious Garlic Confit (p. 193) infuses the dip with a sweet, rich flavor. This creamy, healthful puree is delicious with crudités, Seasoned Pita Crisps (p. 89), blue corn tortilla chips, or on a sandwich with grilled vegetables and (of course) hot sauce. White Bean Hummus can also partner with a few other items to create a beautiful antipasto platter. Just add, for example, roasted red pepper strips, marinated olives, and a few tablespoons of roasted garlic cloves. Don’t be surprised if this becomes one of your new (snacking and entertaining) staples.

Cooks' Note

For a pretty presentation, garnish this hummus with a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary (which will echo the flavors in the confit), another drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and a sprinkling of red pepper.

Recipe notes

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

Heavenly Halva Cake

Serve a thick slice for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Vodka Gochujang Pasta

This pasta has some really big energy about it. It’s so extra, it’s the type of thing you should be eating in your bikini while drinking a magnum of rosé, not in Hebden Bridge (or wherever you live), but on a beach on Mykonos.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Kung Pao Cabbage With Tofu

Reliable cabbage is cooked in the punchy sauce and then combined with store-bought baked tofu and roasted cashews for a salad that can also be eaten with rice.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.