This creamy black bean dip is delicious and easy to make. This recipe uses coconut milk in place of dairy products so it is a great option for people who are vegan or dairy free. In addition to being vegan and dairy free, this recipe is also gluten free, vegetarian, egg free, and nut free.
This black bean dip recipe is a great option for events where you will be sharing food with others. The recipe is simple, easy to scale, and safe for people with all kinds of dietary restrictions.
What is in this black bean dip?
What is in this black bean dip? Here are the main ingredients in this black bean dip.
- Black beans. You can’t have black bean dip without black beans! We generally use canned black beans to make this black bean dip but you can also use dried beans if you prefer.
- Coconut milk. Coconut milk is the main liquid that is used in this black bean dip. Coconut milk is used rather than regular milk so that this dip will be dairy free and vegan friendly.
- Lime juice. Lime juice is the main acid that is used in this recipe for vegan black bean dip. The acid in the lime brightens up the flavor of the dip.
- Cumin, paprika, & red pepper flakes. Cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes are the main spices that are used in this recipe for black bean dip.
- Brown mustard. Finally, some brown mustard is added to give this black bean dip a little extra flavor.
Additions to black bean dip
This recipe for black bean dip is fairly simple. It is intended to be quick and easy to make. Since this is a simple recipe, it is easy to add a few ingredients to customize it to your liking. Many of these additions go well together, so you do not have to limit yourself to just one! Try a different combination every time you make this black bean dip recipe to see which you like the best! Here are a few additions you can make to give your black bean dip a little extra flavor!
- Bouillon cubes. The easiest enhancement you can make is to add half a bouillon cube to your black bean dip right after you add the coconut milk. I recommend adding bouillon cubes to any bean dip or refried beans you make.
- Hot peppers or hot sauce. I like to add 1-2 teaspoons of hot sauce to black bean dip to give it a little extra spice and acidity. Another option is adding some spicy peppers like jalapeños or habaneros. Dice up half a pepper and cook it in 1/2 a tsp of vegetable oil for 5 minutes before adding the other ingredients to your pot.
- Cheese. If you are not avoiding dairy, I would recommend adding half a cup of sharp cheddar cheese to your black bean dip. If you are adding cheese, you might also want to replace the coconut milk with 1/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup sour cream.
- Salsa. You can add 1/3 cup salsa to your black bean dip to give it a little extra flavor and acidity. If you add salsa, you might want to cook your bean dip for an extra 5-10 minutes to cook off some of the extra liquid.
- Tomatoes, onions, and garlic. This addition will add a little extra time and effort but it will also add lots of flavor. Dice up half and onion, one medium sized tomato, and 2 cloves of garlic. Add the onion to your pot with 1 tsp of vegetable oil before you add any other ingredients. Cook it for 5-10 minutes. Add the onions and tomatoes and cook for an additional 3 minutes before adding the other ingredients.
Adjusting the texture of black bean dip
If you want your black bean dip to have an extra smooth texture, you can blend it in a food processor or blender after you are done cooking it. Just make sure you let the dip cool a little bit before you add it into a plastic blender. For reference, I did not blend the black bean dip in my pictures. The beans will burst naturally as you cook them, which is enough to provide a smooth dip texture. Blending the dip mostly serves to cut up the skins of the beans and seamlessly incorporate them into the mixture.
Another important note on texture is that bean dip will thicken as it cools. This means that you should not wait until the bean dip has reached the ideal texture to take it off the stove. Instead you should take the bean dip off the stove when it is still a little more watery than desired and let it thicken.
What to serve with black bean dip
Black bean dip is generally served as a side dish or appetizer. It is generally accompanied by dippers such as chips or vegetables. Here are a few suggestions for what to eat with black bean dip.
- Tortilla chips. Tortilla chips are the most common companion to black bean dip. I would recommend tortilla chips if you are also serving other dips such as salsa or queso.
- Plantain chips. Fried plantain chips are my personal favorite dipper for black bean dip. The creaminess of the black bean dip balances out the sweetness of the black bean dip.
- Vegetables. Vegetables make great dippers if you are looking to make your dish extra healthy. I would recommend sliced bell peppers, celery, and carrots.
- As a side. I also serve black bean dip as a side for dishes like burritos and quesadillas. I love to dip cheesy quesadillas in black bean dip. It adds some extra flavor to the edges of the tortillas that do not have much cheese on them.
Vegan black bean dip
Ingredients
- 8 oz black beans (a standard 8 oz can)
- 7 oz coconut milk (half a standard 14 oz can)
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp brown mustard
- 1/2 tsp lime juice
- 3 stalks green onion (for garnish)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a pot and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Chop the green onion and sprinkle over the top of the bean dip
Substituting in dairy
If you are not avoiding dairy, you could also make this black bean dip with dairy products rather than coconut milk. I would recommend substituting the coconut milk with 1/4 cup of milk and 1/4 cup sour cream. If you want the black bean dip to be a little extra creamy, you could use heavy cream rather than milk.
Other recipes you might like
Do you have some white beans you need to use up? Check out this recipe for creamy Mexican white beans! These tasty white beans are made with garlic, onions, tomatillos, jalapeños, oregano, and cumin. They are finished off with some heavy cream and creamy monterey jack cheese.
If you love our black bean dip, you might also be interested in our recipe for fried sweet plantains. Black bean dip goes well with plantains and the creaminess of the black bean dip balances out the sweetness of the plantains.
This recipe for black bean dip would make a great side for our cheesy pineapple quesadillas. I love to dip quesadillas in black bean dip, and the sweetness of the pineapple in these quesadillas will really draw out the flavor of the black bean dip.
