ROASTED GARLIC AND WHITE BEAN DIP WITH ROSEMARY

Roasted Garlic and White Bean Dip With Rosemary image

The idea of adding a whole head of garlic to a dip might scare you, but compared to its bracing raw counterpart, roasted garlic is sweet and mellow. This dip is garnished with a sprig of sizzled rosemary that's for more than just looks: Frying the herb infuses the olive oil with its fragrance. Spoon the remainder over your finished bowl for a hit of rosemary you wouldn't get with just the minced leaves, then scoop it up with warm pita, cucumber spears, and carrot sticks.

Provided by Sarah Jampel

Categories snack, dips and spreads, appetizer

Time 1h

Yield 8 to 10 servings (2 1/2 cups)

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 head garlic
1 teaspoon, plus 5 tablespoons olive oil
2 (15-ounce) cans white beans, like cannellini, Great Northern or navy beans, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh rosemary leaves, plus 1 full sprig
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pinch of cayenne, plus more for garnish (optional)
1 tablespoon hot water
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

Steps:

Roast the garlic: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel off most of the garlic's outermost skin but leave the whole head intact. Trim about 1/4 inch off the top of the garlic to expose the cloves. Place the garlic on a large piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil over the exposed cloves and close the foil into a pouch. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until you can pierce the center of the head with a knife. Let cool slightly.
Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into the bowl of a food processor. Add the white beans, 4 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary leaves, black pepper, cayenne (if using), hot water and salt. Purée until smooth, then taste for salt, pepper, rosemary and lemon juice. Adjust as necessary. Transfer to a serving dish.
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the remaining rosemary sprig - it should sizzle. Cook until brown and crisp, flipping once, about 1 minute per side, then transfer to the top of the dip as a garnish. Pour or spoon the remaining olive oil, now infused with rosemary, over the top of the dip. Sprinkle with cayenne for a little additional heat.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 117, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 382 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams