Meatless: Smashed Chickpea and Sweet Pea Dip

This is Zoey just back from a run:

and she’s out!

She really gets a good workout, after all, she’s pulling 117 lbs. of ME!

Dips for dunking’ dainty delightful delicacies.

From “Meatless: The Kitchens of Martha Stewart Living” the following ideas were born.  It was a Sunday afternoon and dinner wasn’t going to be fancy so I decided to make a mish-mash of options or “pickeys” as you will, to munch on.

The first dip is a chickpea, basil and radish dip.  It’s pretty basic and very easy to whip up in a food processor.  Although the original recipe leaves it somewhat chunky,  I smoothed my out leaving only chunks of radish.  It was excellent!

Makes 1 1/2 cups

• 1 can low sodium chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained and 1/4 cup liquid reserved
• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

• 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 5 radish, chopped
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• crackers, pitas, crudités to serve

In a food processor, add the chickpeas, oil, garlic,lemon, salt and pepper.  Remove to a serving bowl and stir in the basil and radish.  Add more salt and pepper as needed.

Chill and serve.

Dip Number 2:

Sweet Pea “Hummus”

Amazing flavor in this dip.  Lots of good pronounced flavor with the help of cilantro, lemon and cumin. 

Green peas are a super source of protein (1 cup has more than 1 large egg!).  They are sweet and (as taken from the book “Meatless”) if you use fresh peas (cook for 2 minutes and drain) offer vibrant flavor and sweetness.

Makes 1 1/2 cups

• 1 can sweet no salt added peas (or cook 1 cup fresh shelled peas)
• 1/4 fresh cilantro
• 2 TBS cashew butter or tahini paste *NOT peanut butter as it has too much flavor and sweetness
• 2 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/8 tsp ground cumin
• pinch red pepper

Pulse the peas, cilantro, nut butter or tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cumin and red pepper in a food processor until smooth.  Add salt and pepper as needed. Chill and serve with toast points or crudités.

This will WOW your guests or family!

What’s your favorite dip?  *People and pools don’t count.