Wednesday, July 7, 2010

White Bean Dip, version 2

I posted an earlier version of white bean dip, but I this one is my current favorite.
I love bean dips in the summer when it's hot outside. They are quick to make, healthy, and require very little clean up.

1 can cannellini beans (or similar)
1 clove garlic
tahini
water
sea salt
Crystal hot sauce
lemon juice (optional)

Drain & rinse your beans, then throw them in the blender or VitaMix. Throw in the peeled garlic clove, and add a few pinches of salt. Now get 2 heaping tablespoons of tahini and add those. Add a few glugs of hot sauce, and about 1/4 cup of water. Turn on the blender, and add more water as needed to loosen up the mixure and get it to a "dip" consistancy. Stores in the fridge for a week, and you can serve it with pita, pretzels, rice crackers, etc.

PS--Of course you could use some other brand of hot sauce if you like. In my opinion, there is no brand finer than the blue and white labeled Louisiana Crystal Hot Sauce. It's not too hot, and it tastes great on everything.

Grated Zucchini and Summer Squash Salad

This salad is so easy--it's perfect for a super hot summer day when you don't want to cook. It's also a great way to use up the cheap squash found at the farmers markets right now.

1 medium zucchini
1 medium yellow summer squash
1/2 or 1 whole lemon
sea salt

Grate the zucchini and summer squash, then throw them both in a ziploc bag. Sprinkle lightly with a bit of sea salt. Squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lemon over them, adding up to 1 whole lemon if you are a big lemon fan. Zzzzzzzzzzip up the bag, shake (to coat with the lemon juice), and throw it in the fridge. I think you need to leave it in there for at least 30 minutes. I usually make this in the AM before work and put it in my lunch box, so it sits for about 3 hours.

The acidic juice of the lemon starts to "cook" the squashes, which makes them tendor. Toss just before serving.
PS--you could add some crumbled feta or a dash of rice vinegar to this before serving if you like. Sometimes I even rip up a bit of basil over it too.