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Tag: Spreads + Dips

Smoky Black-Eyed-Olive Dip


2-1/2 cups Black Eyed Peas [cooked, 1/2 cup set aside]
1 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
2 Garlic Cloves
2 Tbs Tahini [raw]
Salt [to taste]
10 Kalamata Olives
2 Tbs Mesquite Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Stir in or garnish with the remaining black eyed peas.

Smoky Eggplant Dip

5 Eggplants [small to medium]
1 Tbs White Onion [finely minced]
1 Garlic Clove [finely minced]
1 Tbs Tahini [raw]
1 tsp + Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 tsp + Smoked Sea Salt
1 tsp Chives [fresh, chopped]
1 tsp Thyme [fresh, chopped]
Smoked Spanish Paprika [for garnish]

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a large baking sheet.

Pierce eggplants several times with a knife. [Leave the tops on as a handle.] Place on the burner of a gas stove + allow to cook for 10 minutes, turning occasionally. The skins should be blackened and blistering + the interior softened.

Cut off the stems + slice the eggplants in half. Place them face down on the baking sheet + bake for about 25 minutes until the flesh is very soft.

Carefully scoop the pulp out of the charred skins + into a bowl. Mash well with a fork, adding in the tahini, garlic, onion, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil + 1/4 tsp sea salt. Refrigerate several hours until chilled.

Stir in herbs, season with salt to taste. Serve with a french baguette, garnished with smoked spanish paprika + a little bit of finishing salt.

Jalapeño Mayonnaise

1 Egg Yolk
1/2 cup Oil
1 Jalapeño Pepper [seeded + finely minced]
1 Garlic Clove [finely minced]
dash Oregano [dried]
dash Lemon Juice
dash Lime Juice
Salt + Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Whisk egg yolk and oil together, adding oil slowly, until thickened. Stir in remaining ingredients + season with salt and pepper.

This recipe is by Jane Middleton and serves as the topping for Texas Tacos.

Garlicky Hummus

2 cans Garbanzo Beans [rinsed]
4 Garlic Cloves [make a very garlicky hummus]
1/4 cup + 2 Tbs Tahini
2 Lemons [juice only from 1-1/2, or more]
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tsp Cumin
dash Cayenne Pepper
Salt + Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Smoked Spanish Paprika [garnish]

Add beans, garlic, tahini, lemon juice + 1/4 cup of olive oil to food processor and process till smooth. Add seasonings, process again. Taste, adding more lemon juice, salt + pepper to taste. Garnish with a sprinkle of smoked paprika and serve immediately.

Party size. Serve with bread and veggies.

[Use only two garlic cloves for a less garlic-dominant spread or if you’re going to serve it the next day.]

Green Lentil Hummus

1 cup French Green Lentils
1/4 tsp. Dried Thyme
1 Bay Leaf
6 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Lemon [juice only]
2 Garlic Cloves [smashed + peeled]
1/4 cup Tahini
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/4 cup Water
Salt + Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Fennel, Carrots, Radishes [sliced thinly for dipping]

Simmer lentils in 2 cups water with thyme + bay leaf till tender, about 20 minutes.   Allow to cool slightly.  Process all ingredients in a food processor till smooth, adding a dash more water or olive oil if necessary.  Serve with veggies, crackers, or bread.

Makes plenty. Would be great to half for a regular day; make the whole recipe for a party.

Arugula Pesto


5 oz Arugula
2 Garlic Cloves [smashed + peeled]
1 Lemon [juice only]
6 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt + Freshly Ground Black Pepper to Taste
2 Tbs Nutritional Yeast
1/4 cup Pine Nuts [toasted]

Blend all in a food processor till smooth.

Spicy Sandwich Spread

4 Tbs Mayonnaise [organic]
1/2 tsp Smoked Spanish Paprika
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
dash White Wine Vinegar

Mix all ingredients together + allow to stand 1 hour before serving.

Spring Bagels

A brunch of spring themed bagel toppings:

Pesto + Arugula

Wasabi Mayo + Green Onion + Black Sesame Seeds + Smoked Salmon

Hummus + Radishes

Tofu [with Miso + Tahini] Spread + Smoked Salmon + Red Onion + Capers

Pesto

3 cups Basil
3 Garlic Cloves
1/2 cup Pine Nuts
1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast
Lemon Zest [1/2 small lemon]
Salt + Freshly Ground Black Pepper [plenty, to taste]
1/2 cup Olive Oil [+/-]

Process all in a food processor, adding olive oil last and slowly till desired consistency.

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Cilantro Pesto

Filling:
1 lb. Butternut Squash [halved, seeds and strings removed]
1 Onion [small, chopped finely]
2 Garlic Cloves [minced]
Cayenne Pepper [just a dash]
Salt + Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste

Roast the squash face down in a glass baking pan for 1/2 an hour at 375F. Flip over and roast until browning around the edges, about 10 minutes more. Scoop out meat from squash and mash till smooth. Meanwhile, sauté the onions until just beginning to brown, then add garlic and cook till tender, about another 2 minutes. Add onions + garlic to mashed squash and season with salt, pepper and cayenne.

Pesto:
1/2 c. Cilantro Leaves [packed]
1 Tbs. Squash Seeds [toasted and hulled pumpkin seeds or your butternut squash seeds if you have time and patience to hull them yourself!]
1 Tbs. Almonds [toasted]
1 Garlic Clove
3 tsp . Lemon Juice [squeeze 1/2 a fresh lemon]
2 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt + Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste

Combine all in a small food processor or blender and puree till well minced.

Pasta:
1 1/2 c. Semolina Flour
2 Eggs [free range, beaten]
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 Tbs. Water
1 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add salt to flour, then eggs, water and olive oil. Kneed till smooth and elastic. Let rest for 10+ minutes. Roll out fine sheets using a pasta maker. Lay pasta flat and place 1 tablespoon of filling ever inch or so. Cover with another layer of pasta and press pasta together around filling, cut apart leaving about a 1/2 inch border on each ravioli. Gently press edges of ravioli together with a fork.

Boil in a single layer in salted water for about 3 minutes or until the ravioli float. Serve with a small spoonful of pesto on top of each ravioli.

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