Basil White Bean Hummus Spread
This delicious basil white bean spread is similar to hummus, but made with white beans instead of chickpeas, making this dip extra creamy. White beans, basil, garlic, and a little lemon are the perfect combination for a fresh new dip or sandwich spread.
This basil white bean spread is so yummy, and the best part is you can prep a batch of this in advance, and save it in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week.
I took a weekend over the summer with a large bunch of basil and spent the days trying a handful of different recipes. Let me tell you, it was a delicious weekend, and this was the recipe I was most eager to share.
I love this recipe so much because you can achieve a super smooth spread, without as many ingredients on hand that you’d need for traditional chickpea hummus.
here’s what you’ll need:
You’ll find the full ingredient list below—but here’s what to expect in this plant-based recipe!
White Beans
Fresh Basil
Garlic
Lemon
prep and serving tips:
My favorite kind of recipes to make, and fun small-bites style dishes that come together in 5 minutes. They certainly aren’t full meals, at least not on their own, but they scream simplicity while also being impressive.
That’s what this easy white bean spread is.
Just rinse and drain the beans, toss them in the food processor along with the basil, garlic, lemon juice (plus salt and pepper), and let the food processor do all the work. Serve with pita chips, fresh cut veggies, or—my personal favorite—slather it on a fresh slice of sourdough toast.
You can’t beat it. It’s perfect to throw together to enjoy with friends, or as your own little pick-me-up snack on a slow Sunday afternoon.
perfect for your vegan meal prep rotation:
This basil white bean spread is perfect to add into your plant-based meal prep rotation because it is SO versatile.
Need a pack-able plant-based snack? Portion out your spread into small jars or containers to pack with pita chips or veggies.
If you’re a savory breakfast person, stock up on your favorite bread and start your mornings toast topped with the basil white bean spread. Just like avocado toast, have fun with the toppings—sliced tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, more fresh basil, a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
You can take it one step further and build an awesome veggie wrap or sandwich with this spread as the star.
I love when meal prep can be that happy medium of prepped in advance, and pulled together with a few steps in the moment. You can totally make meal prep work for you, and it doesn’t always have to look like 4 matching containers filled with the same grain, vegetable, and protein.
Meal prep does not have to feel restrictive. It can be flexible and fit your needs, and to me, this is exactly the recipe to do it.
make it your own - ingredient substitutions:
Remember that cooking doesn’t always have to be so complicated. You are free to go with the flow and make adjustments as needed or desired.
If you have a can of chickpeas in the cabinet, use those. No need to run out for white beans if you don’t have the time or energy. You may need to add a bit of olive oil and/or tahini to chickpeas to achieve the smooth texture of the white beans, but don’t let the details keep you from giving it a shot.
While the flavor will be certainly be different, feel free to swap basil for any fresh herb you have on hand—parsley, cilantro, and dill would all make for great spreads. Try to use fresh herbs instead of dried, and taste as you go. Cooking should be personal, and I always encourage you to make small modifications to recipes to fit your own taste.
I hope you love this basil white bean spread as much as I do! Make it a dip, or as a savory spread on breakfast toast, and be sure to follow along for more plant-based goodness on Pinterest and Instagram.
Basil White Bean Hummus Spread
Ingredients (makes about 1.5 cups of spread/dip):
1 can of white beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of basil—about 1 cup, loosely packed
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Water or olive oil to thin
Instructions
Drain and rinse the white beans.
Add beans to food processor, along with all other ingredients except for the water.
Blend together until combined. Add a little water at a time until hummus spread reaches your desired consistency. You could use olive oil instead of water if you prefer.
Serve in a bowl for dipping pita chips or veggies, or use as a spread on toast or in a sandwich or wrap.
