White Bean Hummus with Basil Pesto

Does the world really need another hummus recipe? Yes. Yes, in fact, it does. Because while no bean can ever replace the beloved chickpea, sometimes you just need something different. A change of pace. That’s where the smooth and creamy white bean comes into play and works so well as a chickpea replacement in this dish.

It amazes me how many people consistently buy pre-made hummus from the store when it’s so ridiculously easy (and cheap) to make at home. The above photo shows all of the items you need to make this dish and once you’ve acquired and prepared them simply throw them in your food processor and whirl away until you get the creamy texture you see in the photo below.

A traditional way to eat hummus is with pita chips and you can buy them from the store or you can make your own. Just like hummus, these too are downright effortless to make and doing it yourself allows you to choose how much oil and salt you want to add.

Simply cut the pita bread in half and then in half again and once more until you are left with little triangles. Brush each one with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

Then place them in a preheated 400 degree oven on a parchment lined baking sheet for about 8 minutes or until they’ve reached the crispiness you desire. Then serve them with this delicious white bean hummus.

White Bean Hummus with Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cans (or 4 cups cooked) white beans strained (I used a combination of cannellini and butter beans this particular time, but feel free to use whatever kind you like since there are so many varieties out there)
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 clove garlic
• water, as needed
• salt, to taste

Puree: Place all ingredients in your food processor and process until completely smooth. You will need to stop the machine every so often to scrape down the sides of the bowl and add water as needed until you’ve achieved the right consistency.

Basil Pesto: Ingredients and instructions are listed here if you want to add this topping to your hummus. Even though it’s not necessary as the white bean hummus is delicious in it’s own right, the pesto adds an even greater kick if you’re feeling ambitious and excited to add that wonderful basil flavor.

Serving: Place the hummus in a dish, top it with the basil pesto, and serve alongside toasted pita triangles and/or chopped fresh veggies.