Jalapeño Lime Black Bean Dip

Who is ready for some more snacks? That is the theme here lately, though to be fair I'm always up for a good snack. The boyfriend is particularly fond of chips and dips, so he's happy any time I whip up a bowl of something tasty he can snack on in the afternoon after work. Salsa, hummus or a bean dip like this--he's not picky! Just like with the trail mix last week, homemade is awesome when you want to control the ingredients going in your snack. Less preservatives, more nutrients when made from wholesome, real ingredients.

Of course I won't turn away a good dip either, I just try to be conscious of how many chips I'm munching on or I'll go for the veggies and have no guilt about how many times I go back for more. I found the lovely little sweet bell peppers from the farmers market, which make the perfect scoop for a hearty bean dip. Jicama is another favorite dipper of mine when I can get my hands on some. It has a lovely crunch and mildly sweet flavor that pairs well with spicy dips.

I particularly love a good dip for an afternoon snack when I hit a low energy point and tend to like something crunchy to wake my brain up. Make a big batch of the dip at the beginning of the week and portion it out with pre-cut vegetables to take to work if you're not at home for your snack. You can also munch on a few bites while making dinner without totally ruining your appetite for the main meal. The other great thing is you can easily adjust the seasonings, beans and other add-ins to customize your dipping experience. I have quite a few other dips here on the blog if you need some other inspiration!

Black Bean Dip

Makes about 2 cups

• 3 cups cooked black beans (2 15-ounce cans)
• 1 lime, juice and zest
• 1 small jalapeño, seeded & minced
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• ½ of a large or 1 small avocado, peeled & pitted
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled & minced
• ½ teaspoon ground chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
• pinch of sea salt

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until well combined. Use a tablespoon of water to thin out as needed as you blend the mixture together. Taste and adjust your spices to your liking before serving. Add an extra wedge of lime to really make the citrus pop as you enjoy the dip!

We just got back from a long weekend away at the beach, so it is time to get back in the kitchen and make some more healthy snacks to get back in the swing of the usual routine. I need my energy to finish off all that laundry...