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Romanian White Bean Dip

A Tasty Way To Explore Romanian Cuisine

Romanian white bean dip.

Besides feeding yourself well and spending less money than going out, here’s what’s fun about cooking:  It is a cheap and tasty way to explore the cuisine of another culture or a nation, without ever leaving home!  No cramped airplane rides or potetially dicey hotel rooms.

Just you, your kitchen, your chef knife, and a trusty skillet or two.

One thing that you’ll learn is that cuisines from across the globe share many of the same ingredients, but are cooked and paired differently with other flavors.

Until a couple of years ago, I didn’t have any first-hand knowledge of  Romanian cuisine.

And then one dish caught my eye.

It’s a traditional white bean dip.

Martisor Is A Tradition That Dates Back to Ancient Rome

We’re still a couple of weeks or so away from spring, but in Romania they celebrate the arrival of spring with Martisor on March 1.

It’s a tradition that dates back to ancient Rome when March 1 was considered the start of the new year.  To commemorate the day, Romanians gave little talismans made of red and white strings and they tied them on trees for good luck.

Today the red and white talismans are given only to women during Martisor, and just a few days later on March 8 Romanians also celebrate Women’s Day, somewhat similar to our Mother’s Day, where all women receive flowers and gifts. March is a great month for the ladies in Romania!

Romanian White Bean Dip Embodies The Spirit of Martisor

This white bean dip embodies the spirit of Martisor with its white base and red topping.

White beans are cooked then blended to a creamy consistency, spread on a plate, and then finished with carmelized onions and smoky tomato topping.  Think of it like the Romanian version of hummus.

It’s super simple and a simply fabulous to begin your taste of  Romania!

Romanian Bean Dip

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4 from 2 reviews

Explore the tastes of Romania with this simple delicious white bean dip. The smoky onion and tomato topping add the pop of flavor needed to make your tastebuds sing!

• Prep Time: 0 hours
• Cook Time: 0 hours
• Total Time: 0 hours
• Yield: Serves 6-8 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups white beans
• 3 garlic cloves
• 3 tablespoons of water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• kosher salt
• olive oil

Smoky Tomato and Onion Top

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• kosher salt
• olive oil

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Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Once the skillet is hot, add just enough olive oil to coat the bottom.
3. Add the onion and sprinkle with kosher salt.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
5. Allow the onions to cook until golden and translucent, stirring occasionally.
6. Add the tomato paste and smoked paprika.
7. Stir together.
8. Remove from the heat.
9. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
10. While the onions cook, process two cups of white beans, garlic, and water in a food processor. Add more water if needed to ensure the beans are smooth.
11. Add the lemon juice.
12. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
13. Spread the bean mixture on a plate.
14. Top with the smoky tomato and onion topping.
15. Drizzle with olive oil.
16. Serve with chips or crackers for dipping.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 scoop
• Calories: 118
• Sugar: 1.7 g
• Sodium: 443.3 mg
• Fat: 5.4 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 3.8 g
• Protein: 4.4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg