This is my first post as a part of Recipe ReDux, a group of food bloggers who work together each month to recreate popular recipes with more nutritious ingredients. When I first heard about Recipe ReDux, my first thought was, “all of my recipes are ‘ReDuxs’!”
One of the reasons I love cooking so much is because I can make yummy meals, but with more of the healthy stuff, and less of the not-so-great stuff. One of my biggest issues with eating out is the small portions of vegetables. Even when ordering a large salad, it might have a lot of lettuce (or might not), but *typically*, it’s covered in cheese, croutons, bacon, crispy tortilla strips… you get what I mean — and lacking flavorful veggie toppings (or the veggies are in small quantities). I long ago learned to order dressing on the side, but it’s difficult to get them to ADD VEGGIES.
And it really annoys me when I’m ordering something WITHOUT the cheese, the bacon, the dressing, –expensive toppings– and they want to charge me to add tomatoes and peppers to it.
The only solution to this problem I’ve found is to eat. in. more.
This month’s ReDux challenge is to showcase how to use the abundance of summer veggies now available. If you have basil in your garden (yay!), my Lightened up Basil Walnut Pesto recipe from earlier this week is a fantastic way to use it (if you have a ton, make a double or triple batch and freeze it!).
And today’s recipe is a fantastic way to make pretty much any vegetable more appealing to the whole family– a summery, fresh, SUPER flavorful Basil Pesto White Bean Hummus.
Earlier this summer, I tried my first hummus ever – Roasted Cauliflower White Bean Hummus (<– a must try!). I make my hummus with white beans because of a garbanzo bean allergy, but I bet both recipes would work with either bean. If you haven’t tried a white bean hummus, my friends (recipe testers!) have told me it’s creamier than a traditional hummus.
Alex, my husband, claims he isn’t a hummus fan. And he really doesn’t like cucumbers. After making this the other day, I brought it to him (knowing his love of pesto) with a platter of veggies, including cucumbers, and some PopChips, thinking we would share it. I was doing a few other things before I came over to have some– and when I finally got around to going over and sharing the snack, I was greeted by an empty platter and an almost empty bowl of hummus. If he liked it so much he even ate the cucumbers, it must be very, very good.
So here is a recipe to tempt the non-veggie lovers in your family to chow down on the crudités.
Contents
Basil Pesto White Bean Hummus (Recipe Redux)
Ingredients
- 1 can white cannellini beans or white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup Lightened Up Basil Walnut Pesto
- 1-1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice to taste*
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or more, to taste
- olive oil, more pesto, walnuts, and basil leaves optional, to garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor, starting with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and â…›-1/4 teaspoon of sea salt.
- Process for 2-4 minutes, until desired creaminess is achieved.
- Taste, and adjust lemon juice and sea salt. The amount of lemon juice and sea salt needed will vary depending on how much you used in the pesto. If subbing a store bought pesto, the amounts necessary will vary, as my pesto recipe already has more lemon juice than a typical store bought variety.
- When serving, drizzle hummus with a high quality olive oil, and swirl in another teaspoon or two of pesto. To make it extra fancy, sprinkle with basil and chopped walnuts.
- Serve with chopped vegetables, pita bread, or chips, or use as a spread for sandwiches or a flavorful topping for salads or roasted veggies (we've done all of these things this week!).
Nutrition
Be Inspired- More Ways to use Summer Veggies! (Recipe ReDux)
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I KNEW I hadn’t seen you as a member before! Welcome to the “club” 😉
Beautiful perfect first redux my dear! Looks so creamy and delish!
It was your site where I learned about ReDux– I applied last year, but just got a spot. Will be fun!
This looks so beautiful and delicious! I’ve made white bean dip with spices before but never thought to add pesto. This is such an easy yet healthy and yummy recipe. Pinned!
Thanks Katie 🙂 Yes– it was easy, and super delicious. Making more today– the BEST way to eat raw veggies.
I am definitely going to pick up some basil at the farmers’ market this weekend so I can make this! I love pesto and I love hummus but never thought to put them together! This is my first redux post, too!
This hummus blew us away 🙂 I’m making my 4th batch today because when I pull it out, it’s gone too quickly– my husband, our son’s nanny, my friend who came to visit yesterday– it’s been popular around here!
White bean and pesto sound so good- I love your spin on this. It sounds delicious and if I were your husband, I probably would have finished the entire thing, haha!
I don’t mind when he finishes a whole plate of chopped veggies 🙂 I think I’ve learned I need to make a double batch!
I love this idea, I will definitely try it.
I’d love to hear how you like it! It turned out better than I imagined it would.
The Basil Pesto looks so delicious. I really like your linky parties.
Thanks! The Pesto was delicious– and the hummus even better!
My two most favorite things combined into one tasty dish- pesto & hummus! Yum! Such a delicious snack and your photos are beautiful. I’m intrigued about the Recipe ReDux club. This sounds like something right up my alley. How would I go about learning more? Thanks!
Hi Christin, thanks for your thoughts! Go to the Recipe Redux site – http://thereciperedux.com/ — and submit an application. It actually took a long time for them to have space for me, so I am not sure what their numbers are like now (or what criteria they really use to accept applications)– but put in an application and see what they say!
Love the idea of adding pesto to the white bean hummus. What a great snack!
It has been a really great snack. I am making more today.
My two favorite “dips” in one. Fantastic idea. I too do all I can to get everyone to eat their veggies. This is on my “to try” list. Love the idea of the Cauliflower combo too.
Thanks KC! This dip sure has made us eat a lot of veggies over the past few weeks 🙂
#yummyrecipe must try! Thanksssssss!
Wow! What an amazing looking pesto – hummus mash up! Love the idea to mix in kidney beans as well. This recipe comes in handy since I’m playing around with dips as well at the moment. Thanks!
I love hummus… this sounds amazing!
This looks so rich and delicious! Great color, too 🙂
What gorgeous photos, and what gorgeous pesto! I love the idea of this Recipe ReDux series! Thanks for sharing, sounds like an amazing pesto.
Wow this looks so amazing! The photos are stunning. This is such a creative recipe too – I’ve never made a hummus with white beans before or added in pesto! Thats such a great idea! It sounds so delicious. I definitely need to try this!
I’m glad to hear you like it! It’s really delicious.
I’m a big hummus fan and I think this is my fav recipe ever! Love the vibrant colour and I’m lover of cannellini beans, too.
Gorgeous photos, Michelle! Hope you’re relaxing with your feet up, lol. Talk soon 🙂
Thanks Robyn 🙂 I’m actually doing really well– have felt no need slow down. Just about there now though!
I’m a sucker for hummus. I can have this by the spoonful!
Yes, I just discovered it, and I have been eating it by the spoonful. So yummy.
YAY! Didn’t realize you’re in the Recipe Redux, too!! This dip looks great, Michelle! I’ll need to add it onto my to-make list once I’m off the Whole30!
I will miss this while I am on the Whole30 🙂
It was my first Redux!
I’m such a fan of white bean hummus! Your recipe looks great 🙂
I’ve become a huge fan of white bean hummus this summer– such an amazing way to eat veggies 🙂
You know, I’ve never thought of putting pesto into hummus before, but that’s really a great idea! I definitely have to try this. My fiancé and I make hummus wraps all the time, this would be awesome in it!
I have never put pesto in hummus before either– and we are hooked on it 🙂 It’s the only way my husband really likes hummus. Such an amazing sandwich spread, but I also like it slathered all over a salad. So much flavor!