For a nutritious version of artichoke dip, look to navy bean

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This article was published 06/05/2019 (2643 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Most artichoke dips could justifiably be called mayonnaise and cheese dips, given what goes into them.

To create a more nutritious rendition, we looked to bean dip to provide a creamy base that contributed protein and fiber instead of saturated fat. We thought that the vegetal artichokes (high in vitamins K and C and various minerals) would partner well with the earthy-sweet but mild beans, adding some needed character.

We chose navy beans for their velvety texture, rinsing them to remove excess sodium. Using canned beans and jarred artichoke hearts kept the recipe easy. To increase the creaminess of our dip and add a filling burst of protein, we incorporated Greek yogurt.

Finally, a healthy dose of lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and scallion added fresh flavour and brightness. Serve with vegetables, whole-grain crackers, or whole-grain chips.

NAVY BEAN AND ARTICHOKE DIP

Servings: 6-8

Start to finish: 50 minutes

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice

1 small garlic clove, minced

1 (15-ounce) can navy beans, 2 tablespoons liquid reserved, beans rinsed

1 cup jarred whole artichoke hearts packed in water, rinsed and patted dry, 2 tablespoons chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves

1 scallion, white and light green parts cut into 1/2-inch pieces, dark green part sliced thin on bias

Salt

1/4 teaspoon ground fennel

Pinch cayenne pepper

1/4 cup organic plain 2 per cent Greek yogurt

Cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil

Combine lemon zest and juice and garlic in bowl and let sit for 15 minutes.

Pulse garlic-lemon juice mixture, beans, their reserved liquid, whole artichoke hearts, parsley, white and light green scallion pieces, 3/4 teaspoon salt, fennel, and cayenne in food processor until finely ground, 5 to 10 pulses, scraping down bowl as needed. Continue to process until uniform paste forms, about 1 minute, scraping down bowl as needed.

Add yogurt and continue to process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Transfer to serving bowl, cover, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Dip can be refrigerated for up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before serving.) Season with salt to taste. Sprinkle with reserved chopped artichokes and dark green scallion parts, and drizzle with oil to taste before serving.

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Nutrition information per serving: 109 calories; 34 calories from fat; 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 328 mg sodium; 14 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 5 g protein.

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For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit https://www.americastestkitchen.com . Find more recipes like Bean and Artichoke Dip in “Nutritious Delicious .”

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America’s Test Kitchen provided this article to The Associated Press.