Butter Bean Hummus

When you're in the mood for a snack, Hummus is an excellent choice. Healthy plant protein blended into a delicious dip. I love it with pita bread and crackers, and with veggies for the ultimate feel-good snack!

Hummus is traditionally made with chickpeas (garbanzo beans) but you can actually use any white bean to make your hummus. What I have found is that butter beans, in particular, make a most excellent hummus!

These creamy beans make such smooth and velvety hummus, I've stopped using chickpeas altogether. Butter bean hummus all the way!

Ingredients Needed

**Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for detailed quantities and directions**

How to Make Butter Bean Hummus

First, mince the garlic and place it in a small bowl with the lemon juice. Let this marinate for a minute or two, to help mellow the garlic a little.

Drain a can of butter beans and reserve the liquid. Or at least a little; you'll only need about 2 tablespoons for the hummus.

Place the beans and tahini in your food processor and blend to break up the beans and start to form a thick paste with the tahini.

Now, while processing, drizzle in the lemon juice/garlic mixture. Drizzle in one tablespoon olive oil and continue processing until the mixture is smooth.

Remove the lid from the food processor and sprinkle in the spices. Close and process to fully incorporate the spices. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the reserved bean liquid. If the mixture still seems a little thick, you can add up to one additional tablespoon olive oil.

Process for one full minute to ensure the hummus is perfectly mixed.

Remove the lid and give the hummus a quick taste. You might find you want to add a little lemon juice, olive oil, or salt. If you do make any adjustments, be sure to re-process thoroughly.

Your hummus is ready to serve!

Try making some Air Fryer Pita Chips for a fantastic combination!

Use it with other rice cake toppings when you want a lower carb alternative.

What are Butter Beans?

The term butter bean is most popular in the southern US and the UK, referring to a flat, broad bean with a creamy texture. I (in Wisconsin) typically see this choice in the canned beans section of my local grocery store.

Butter beans are the same as lima beans. And if I am looking in the dry bean area, they are labeled as lima beans there.

Butter beans, once cooked, have a delicate, buttery texture, which makes them perfect for hummus. In addition, they are filled with nutrition.

Like other beans, butter beans are high in fiber. Dietary fiber helps to lower cholesterol levels, and to regulate blood sugar.

Butter beans are a good source of a couple trace minerals: molybdenum and manganese. Molybdenum is needed to detoxify sulfates, a common food preservative. Manganese is an antioxidant which is also believed to help in bone formation, therefore may help to prevent osteoporosis.

Expert Tips and Variations

The one important tip I will provide here is to mix/process well. Give your food processor plenty of time to whip the hummus into a smooth and creamy texture. The result will be so worth it!

Once you've mastered this butter bean hummus, there are so MANY variation possibilities! Here are a few you can try:

• Add some chopped sun-dried tomatoes while processing.
• Similarly, roast some red bell pepper and add that to the mix.
• Roasted pine nut hummus is one of my favorites!
• Olives make a great garnish, chopped on top.
• Sprinkle with some "Everything Bagel" seasoning.
• Roasted garlic - this will really mellow out that garlic, and makes a fabulous addition!

More Dip Recipes to Love

Keep that bean love going with fava beans ful medames, an Egyptian bean dip that goes great with pita bread.

And if you really want to expand even more, check out this collection of Middle Eastern dips that goes way beyond mere hummus. Something for everyone!

Satisfy your sweet tooth with some Greek Yogurt and Peanut Butter Dip or Heath Bar Apple Dip, both great ways to get your kids to eat more fruit!

Round out the dip selection with some Jalapeno Artichoke Dip, Lemony Whipped Feta Dip, and Pepperoni Dip. Your appetizer table never looked so good!