Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Spicy Lima Bean Dip with Avocado

Spicy Lima Bean Dip with Avocado

Lima bean and tahini dip with avocado for creaminess and salsa verde for spiciness. Top with more veggies and queso cheese for a tasty snack!

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2015/04/spicy-lima-bean-dip-with-avocado.html

Ah, April. Everything is greening up outside. Our grass is enjoying the recent rains which, along with last Fall's snack of finely shredded leaves worked in with the mulching mower, results in a vibrant lawn I'd be proud to let a guinea pig nibble. Sadly after 5 years we are without guinea pigs to nibble grass. Instead, I have a posse of dogs who enjoy lying in the sun of an afternoon.

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2015/04/spicy-lima-bean-dip-with-avocado.html
Vincent with the garlic bed.
I've planted peas and chard in the garden, and each day the garlic looks stronger and taller. Interestingly, there's now garlic appearing in 3 out of our 5 raised beds. I rotate my crops and apparently I have missed several bulbs over the years. If I get them out this time, I'm curious what a 'forgotten for 3-4 years' garlic bulb looks like. I'll share a photo on my FB page.

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2015/04/spicy-lima-bean-dip-with-avocado.html

I wanted to green up our plates, as well. In the months leading up to the start of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share season I bounce between using put up vegetables from the freezer and buying fresh vegetables from the store. It is a treat to buy avocados because I know I'll be able to enjoy them as soon as they are ready (they won't be preempted due to vegetable triage).

In this recipe, I decided to keep the green theme going and use some lima beans from the freezer. I grew up eating lima bean and corn succotash but my kids are not fans, so I was looking for another way to use them. The lima beans blend nicely in a food processor and make an awesome veggie appetizer.

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2015/04/spicy-lima-bean-dip-with-avocado.html

For other recipes using avocados please see my Avocado Recipes Collection. For other recipes using beans, please see my Bean Recipes Collection. These collections are part of the Visual Recipe Index by Ingredient, a resource to help my readers figure out what to do when they've got ____________ to use. For other Awesome Veggie Apps and Snacks, please see my Pinterest board of the same name.


http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2015/04/spicy-lima-bean-dip-with-avocado.html

Spicy Lima Bean Dip with Avocado

1½ cups cooked lima beans
1 avocado
¼ cup tahini
4 teaspoons lime juice
½ teaspoon cumin
½ cup cilantro leaves
1 clove roasted garlic or plain if you roll that way (here's how I roast and put up my garlic crop)
2 to 3 Tablespoons salsa verde (one of these days I'll get my recipe up)
1½ teaspoons salt
olive oil to drizzle over finished dip, optional but yummy
Optional toppings for layered appetizer: chopped bell peppers, green and kalamata olives, pickled jalapeños, crumbled queso

Combine all ingredients in a food processor, pulse until blended. Scrape down sides, and process until smooth.  Serve with tortilla chips, or go crazy topping with goodies as shown.

http://www.farmfreshfeasts.com/2015/04/spicy-lima-bean-dip-with-avocado.html

14 comments:

  1. I grew up eating them too-- and I was surprised that so many people didn't like them. This looks really delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marye,
      I grew up eating Swiss Chard that we grew in the backyard. I didn't realize it was not a typical vegetable until I was in my 20s.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  2. What a unique idea to add lima beans, this sounds so fresh!! I am jealous of your gardening this year, we won't have one till next year probably. Send some of those greens this way!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amber,
      If you are in a position to save (and shred) your leaves this fall, do so! It will make your gardening so much better next year!
      Thanks!

      Delete
  3. Ah April... we're still dealing with cold weather! We can't even get to the garden bed just yet.

    Now, pass me some chips, I wanna dive into that beautiful dip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kate,
      Would you like tortilla or pita chips? I've gotcha covered either way!
      Thanks!

      Delete
  4. The only way I'm getting my husband to try this is if I don't tell him the hummus contains lima beans. (Of course, I'm not a huge lima bean fan either, so I see his point.) But I'm not beyond a little subterfuge in the interest of expanding my hummus repertoire. Besides, you have a good rep around here (courtesy of your butternut and spinach lasagna), so I can always fall back on "it's from Kirsten.."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura,
      'Well, if it's from Kirsten it must be good' . . . is actually a phrase that warms the cockles of my heart.
      Thanks!

      Delete
  5. I will choose the go crazy with toppings route. Also, I have edamame in my freezer. I bet I could use that here instead of the lima beans. I'm so ready for the dip for dinner season. This will work wonderfully in the rotation.

    Also, I need to clear the leaves from my garden beds and see if any garlic is peeking up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meghan,
      I am not quite ready for dip for dinner season, primarily because we got a real grown up person grill last weekend (no more portable grill with no space and no oomph!) so I am in Grill All The Things! season.
      Soon the garlic will be bursting forth from the leaves regardless!

      Delete
  6. It's April and our trees are bare and there is not one blade of grass to be seen. I am sitting in my living room with a nose that is puppy cold. I think I need some green on my plate. I want to go in on this dip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela,
      You need to be in my house. My daughter pruned her peach trees, and I had her stick some of the pruned branches in vases. In another day or two there will be lovely pink peach blossoms decorating my dining room!
      Thanks!

      Delete
  7. this sounds fantastic, so unique! I am looking forward to gardening this year, very soon!

    ...is your dog part dachshund, by any chance? looks like it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristina,
      Vincent is probably a wiener dog/beagle mix. He came to us about 8 years old with Wee Oliver Picklepants, an 8 pound 1 eyed runty 6 yr old wiener dog. Sadly Wee Oliver is no longer with us--he ruptured a disc--but Vincent still rules the dogs of the household and watches over me when my spouse deploys.
      I never thought I'd love little dogs, but then I met those two and that was it. Smitten.
      Good eye!

      Delete