Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Easy Bean Spreads

My family had a BBQ over the weekend for my Dad's birthday, and I offered to make some spreads to snack on. I always have a container of hummus or black bean spread in my fridge, but every once in a while its nice to blend your own spread with your favorite flavors, herbs, spices, and veggies to mix in. And it's so easy! For the BBQ I made a Black Bean & Lemon Spread and a Chickpea, Caper & Roasted Red Pepper Spread. I forgot to take pictures of these - whoops!

Black Bean & Lemon Spread:
1 can black beans, rinsed
2-4 Tablespoons lemon juice
salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Throw all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Chickpea, Caper & Roasted Red Pepper Spread:
1 can chickpeas, rinsed
2 Tablespoons capers
Jarred roasted red peppers (to taste, I guess, because I didn't measure the amount!)
1 Teaspoon olive oil

Throw all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

I had both of these spreads prepared in under 10 minutes, and fortunately, they were gobbled up that fast too! These spreads are hearty enough to make a great sandwich filler or cracker spread.

4 comments:

Elizabeth Jarrard said...

throwing capers in there is so unique! love me some chickpeas and capers! can't wait for HLS!!!

eatingRD said...

mmm . . . love bean spreads in place of mayo on sammies! sounds great :) Have a great weekend at the HLS!

Iris said...

Ooh I'm feeling that chickpea spread! By the way, I have to give a little shout out to Tufts...I went there for undergrad, but I know their graduate nutrition programs are great!

Janel said...

Nice! Go Jumbos!

 
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