Minty Spring Pea and Bean Dip
A vibrant, creamy spread brightened with fresh herbs and lemon
Why This Recipe Works
This vibrant dip uses butter beans for body and fresh peas for sweetness, resulting in a lighter alternative to traditional hummus. Macerating the garlic in lemon juice first takes the edge off, ensuring the fresh mint shines through.
Instructions
Combine the garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a small bowl and let stand for 15 minutes. This maceration process mellows the raw garlic's bite. Set aside a small portion of the peas to use as a garnish later.
Pulse the butter beans, reserved bean liquid, remaining peas, mint, white and light green scallion parts, salt, coriander, cayenne, and the lemon-garlic mixture in a food processor until the mixture is roughly ground, about 10 pulses. Scrape down the bowl, then process until a uniform paste forms, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides as needed.
Add the yogurt and continue to process until the dip is completely smooth and creamy, about 15 seconds.
Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, cover, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. This resting period allows the mint and citrus to fully infuse the bean base.
Season with salt to taste. Garnish with the reserved peas and dark green scallion parts, then drizzle with olive oil and serve at room temperature with vegetables or pita.
π½οΈ Complete the Meal
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze this recipe?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Can I make this ahead of time?
The dip can be refrigerated for up to 1 day; let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.