Halloween Black Bean Dip (Printer-Friendly Version)

Creamy black bean dip with smoky spices and crisp puff pastry details for a festive party appetizer.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dip

01 - 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
06 - 1 tablespoon granulated vegetable bouillon
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - ½ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
12 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
13 - ¼ cup mild chunky salsa
14 - 1 green onion, sliced

→ Accompaniments

15 - Buttery round crackers

→ Puff Pastry RIP Letters

16 - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry dough, thawed
17 - 1 large egg (for egg wash)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding browning.
02 - Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and vegetable bouillon into the skillet. Stir to evenly coat the aromatics and cook for 30 seconds to release the spices' fragrance.
03 - Transfer the sautéed mixture to a food processor. Add drained black beans, lime juice, salsa, and half of the cilantro. Blend until smooth and creamy, adjusting seasoning as needed to taste.
04 - Pour the dip into a shallow serving dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to meld flavors. Before serving, garnish with remaining cilantro and sliced green onions for freshness.
05 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use mini alphabet cutters to create 'RIP' letters, arrange on parchment-lined baking sheet, brush with beaten egg, and bake 7 to 10 minutes until golden and puffed. Cool on a wire rack.
06 - Present the black bean dip alongside buttery round crackers and top with the baked puff pastry 'RIP' letters for a festive display.

# Additional Tips:

01 - For a smoother texture, blend an extra minute adding 1 tablespoon water or olive oil as needed. Prepare dip a day ahead to intensify flavors.
02 - Bake puff pastry letters up to one day in advance; store at room temperature in an airtight container and re-crisp in a low oven before serving.

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