In the grand scheme of beans, I think chickpeas are slightly overrated. Don't get me wrong, they are one of my favorite ingredients (just look at all the recipes that use chickpeas on my site) but when it comes to legumes, there are many options for many different uses. More and more, I'm turning to the broad range of white beans. I love these easy-to-use beans in salads, soups, and especially in the form of dips. These beans have a creamier texture which translates into a perfectly smooth white bean dip. For this particular version, the addition of roasted garlic and herbs creates the best game night addition.
PrintWhite Bean Dip with Roasted Garlic and Herbs
An easy and beautiful white bean dip that is the perfect appetizer or snack. Made with roasted garlic and a handful of fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 cloves roasted garlic (see note)
- 3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives
- 2 cups cannelini beans (drained and rinsed if using canned)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or as needed.)
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse roasted garlic cloves until minced. Add in the herbs, pulsing a few more times to mince.
- Measure in the beans, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Run the food process until the dip is smooth, adding 1 tablespoons more of olive oil or lemon juice as needed based on taste and texture. Taste and add salt as needed.
Notes
Tips & Tricks: My favorite way to roast garlic is to cut the top from the head, enough to expose the garlic, rub generously with olive oil, then place face-down in a roasting pan. Roast at 400˚ F for 30 to 40 minutes, turning over after 30 minutes and continuing to cook until soft.
Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: white beans, garlic, herbs
Nutrition: see the information.
Nutrition
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 1.6
- Sodium: 110
- Fat: 8.5
- Carbohydrates: 42.1
- Fiber: 10.4
- Protein: 16
Step by Step
White Bean Dip
variations
The flavor of the base white bean dip is subtle, which makes it a wonderful platform for other flavors. I would recommend sticking with the roasted garlic- it's the right amount of garlic flavor (and is always in my white bean dip.)
Herbs: A couple other options beyond the combination above: basil (or pesto), sage- great for fall, or cilantro.
Spicy: Add a sprinkle of chili flakes or one of my favorite things to do is add a scoop of curry paste or powder.
Vegetables: One of my favorite things to add to this dip is sweet potato or squash puree, about ½ cup or a little more. Adds a nice flavor and tint to the overall dip.
Explore the Game Night Menu

The final recipe in the game-night series, this white bean dip is the perfect all-night snacking dip when paired with pita, crackers, or toasted bread. And just incase you missed the rest of the menu, here are the links. Make any of these recipes for your game night? Be sure to tag it #naturallyella on instagram!
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