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Harissa Red Pepper Dip

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This harissa red pepper dip is simple and healthy! It comes together in minutes, and is perfect for a snack or party.

Harissa Red Pepper Dip- A simple and healthy dip that comes together in minutes, and is perfect for a snack or party

Hi, my name is Denise, and I am a hummus addict.

But you already know that, don’t you? I am the person who brought you the Smoky Sweet Potato Hummus, and then Roasted Garlic and White Bean Hummus. And this week-end, I just couldn’t help myself. My hummus cravings kicked in…again…and I made this dip.

This harissa red pepper dip was going to be hummus, but I think at this point, it is just dip {no chickpeas and no tahini = not hummus in my book}. Because what happens when you send a man to the grocery store to pick up some chickpeas? You get cannellini beans.

Ben makes me laugh. He confused chickpeas and white beans this time and a few weeks ago he admitted that he didn’t know the difference between rosemary and thyme. But I am definitely a verrrry lucky lady to have myself a guy who is willing to go to the grocery store for me.

Check out my recipe for the BEST Easy Homemade Hummus!

Harissa Red Pepper Dip- A simple and healthy dip that comes together in minutes, and is perfect for a snack or party

I was totally OK with using white beans in this harissa red pepper dip because they are ever so smooth when thrown into the food processor, and they are so neutral that they go with pretty much any flavors.

With the white beans, into the food processor went a jar of roasted red peppers, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, ground cumin and coriander, and last but not least, some harissa paste.

If you are a harissa paste newbie, here’s the deal: it’s a Tunisian hot pepper paste that includes roasted red peppers and hot peppers. According to my weakling taste buds, it is HOT. However it is my understanding that different brands will vary in their heat, so keep that in mind while making this dip.

I added just two teaspoons, which was just enough for a bit of heat, without the need for tongue-hanging-out-of-mouth-panting. Not that I ever do that 😉

Harissa Red Pepper Dip- A simple and healthy dip that comes together in minutes, and is perfect for a snack or party

So. Things I love about this harissa red pepper dip:

  • It’s fast and easy. 5 minutes start to finish.
  • It’s a tiny bit sweet and a tiny bit spicy, with wonderful flavor from the ground cumin and coriander and the garlic.
  • It’s purty. The photo above: untouched.
  • It’s healthy.
  • It tastes good. Real good.

Put this dip on your list of guilt-free snacks or appetizers this holiday. You won’t regret it 🙂

Harissa Red Pepper Dip- A simple and healthy dip that comes together in minutes, and is perfect for a snack or party

More dip for us!

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5 from 2 votes

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: dairy-free, gluten-free, healthy snack, holidays, vegan
Calories: 104kcal
Author: Denise
Servings: 8
This roasted red pepper dip is creamy, delicious, and a little bit spicy! Serve with chips and veggies for the perfect party snack.
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins

Ingredients

  • 15 oz can of cannelini beans (drained & rinsed; see * notes)
  • 10 oz jar of roasted red peppers (300 mL; drained)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon harissa paste (or swap for sriracha; see ** notes)

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Blend for one minute, until smooth and creamy.
  • Serve with veggies or crackers.

Storage

  • This dip can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 7 days.
  • It can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Notes

* white kidney, navy or great northern beans will all work in this recipe but must be cooked
** Harissa paste is a Tunisian hot pepper paste, it may be found in the international foods section of many grocery stores or ordered on Amazon. Be careful when adding it to your dip; start with a few teaspoons and add more to taste!

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of batch | Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 822mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 18.7mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1.9mg

Products used in this recipe:

Harissa Red Pepper Dip- A simple and healthy dip that comes together in minutes, and is perfect for a snack or party

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Comments

  1. Billy

    This looks like a delicious dip! Can’t wait to try making this for the family next time I head to the grocery store. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  2. Susan Thomas

    Denise,
    In your printer version you are missing “cumin”. You just wrote 1/2 tea. Then blank space. Do you think you could correct this?
    Thanks ,
    Susan

    Reply

  4. Mendy Schafer

    I have a bottle of Harissa infused olive oil purchased from Branch and Vine. Do you think it might take the place of the paste?

    Reply

    • Denise

      Hi Mendy! I’m not sure if the olive oil will have the same amount of spice as the harissa paste, but it’s worth a try! You could always add some cayenne or hot sauce if you want to add more heat. I hope you like it!

      Reply

    • Denise

      I used to buy my own dips, too, especially hummus. I always thought it was going to be a pain to make, but it’s so easy, and the difference in flavors is huge. You should give it a try, Thalia 🙂

      Reply

  7. marcie

    I use cannellini beans in my hummus more than I use chick peas. Is that bad? 🙂 I love the sound of this dip with the harissa, and I’m a hummus addict too! Pinning this to try!

    Reply

  12. Alyssa @ My Sequined Life

    This is exactly the kind of snack I crave – creamy, spicy, and you can eat it with something salty. I have an extra can of cannellini beans in the cabinet that has this dip written all over it. I’m in! I’ve never tried harissa before (to my knowledge, anyway) but I think I need to check it out. And start slow with it haha.

    Reply

  13. Helen @ Scrummy Lane

    Hahaha … husbands, hey! Got to love them …
    I love what you came up with here, though. You’ve got a great balance of flavours in there including a real hit of spice – perfect for ramping up those creamy neutral beans!

    Reply

  14. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely

    5 stars
    That is kind of cute Ben doesn’t know the difference between rosemary and thyme. They do kiiiind of look similar. But canellini beans instead of chickpeas? It says it right on the can! Shawn would do the same thing, oh men. But at least they’re nice enough to go to the grocery store for us! I’m not complaining! This harissa dip sounds delicious! I am a harissa newbie, I’ve never cooked with it before. But it sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try : )

    Reply

    • Denise

      I know! I said to him this last time, ‘you know which one is thyme?’ and he said ‘the pointy one?’ Ha. They’re both pointy. He actually knows the difference between chickpeas and canellini beans but they were right beside each other and he somehow grabbed the wrong one. Thanks, Natalie!

      Reply

  16. [email protected]

    Hummus, dip, it’s all the same to me when it concerns something as AMAZING as this! As long as I can stuff this in my face, I think I’m good. Holey YUM, Denise, this dip looks amazing! Love how finger-lickin’ and kickin’ it looks!

    Reply

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