Spicy Black Bean Dip (Printable)

Bold zesty dip featuring black beans, jalapeño, and lime. Vegan, gluten-free, and ready in just 10 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans & Vegetables

01 - 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

→ Flavorings & Liquids

06 - 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
07 - 2 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
09 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1/4 tsp chili powder
11 - 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish

13 - Extra chopped cilantro
14 - Crumbled feta or cotija cheese (omit for vegan)
15 - Sliced jalapeños
16 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a food processor, combine black beans, jalapeño, garlic, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
02 - Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. For a chunkier texture, pulse instead of blending continuously.
03 - Taste and adjust seasoning with more lime, salt, or jalapeño as desired.
04 - Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with extra cilantro, cheese, sliced jalapeños, and lime wedges if using.
05 - Serve with tortilla chips, vegetable sticks, or as a spread in wraps and sandwiches.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent an hour in the kitchen when really you just turned on the food processor and walked away for two minutes.
  • The heat builds gradually—not a punishing spice that derails the party, but a gentle warmth that keeps people coming back for more.
  • Every ingredient is something you probably already have, so this becomes your secret weapon for unexpected guests.
02 -
  • Over-blending turns black beans into baby food texture—blend until it's smooth, then stop, because one more second of processing can flip it from creamy to gluey.
  • The lime juice does more than flavor; it's the acid that keeps everything tasting bright and prevents the dip from tasting flat and bean-heavy after sitting for an hour.
03 -
  • Buy jalapeños that feel heavy and firm, not soft—they'll have more flesh and less water, and they'll stay fresh longer in your crisper drawer.
  • If you forget to rinse the beans or don't have a food processor, a blender works fine, though you might need to blend in two batches since blenders are narrower than processors.
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