Ingredients:
1 head garlic
1 teaspoon, plus 5 tablespoons olive oil
2 (15 ounce) cans white beans, like cannellini, Great Northern or navy beans, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh rosemary leaves, plus 1 full sprig
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 pinch of cayenne, plus more for garnish (optional)
1 tablespoon hot water
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
Directions:
- Roast the garlic. Keep the oven to 400 degrees. Peel off most of the garlic’s outermost skin but leave the whole head intact. Trim about ¼” off the top of the garlic to expose the clove. Place the garlic on a large piece of aluminum foil, then drizzle one teaspoon olive oil over the exposed cloves and close the foil into a pouch. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until you can pierce the center of the head with a knife. Let cool slightly.
- Squeeze the rousted garlic cloves into the bowl of a food processor. Add the white beans, 4 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary leaves, black pepper, cayenne, hot water and salt. Puree until smooth, then taste for salt, pepper, rosemary and lemon juice. Adjust as necessary. Transfer to a serving dish.
- Heat remaining teaspoon of olive oil in a small heavy skillet over medium high heat. When hot, add the remaining rosemary sprig, it should sizzle. Cook until brown and crisp, add 1 minute per side. Transfer to the top of the dip as a garnish. Pour or spoon the remaining olive oil, now infuse with rosemary, over the top of the dip. Sprinkle with cayenne.
Time: One Hour
Yield: 8-10 servings (2 ½) cups
