Rosemary White Bean Dip Recipe

garlic and rosemary olive oil in small copper pot

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

Cannellini beans – Cannellini beans, also known as white navy beans, are used in Italian recipes. They can be used interchangeably with great northern beans and are the base of this dip. I love using them for their smooth, slightly nutty texture. I use canned beans as a shortcut but dried beans can also be used.
Parmesan – Parmesan-Reggiano is definitely one of my favorite cheeses. It’s a hard cow’s milk cheese aged for different lengths of time. I’d recommend buying a roughly cut piece of wrapped cheese from the grocery store – it’s typically a higher quality cheese. In this recipe I’d recommend grating it just before adding to the pasta to get the smoothest sauce possible.
Rosemary – Sprigs of rosemary are used to infuse the olive oil with flavor before it’s blended with the beans.
Olive oil – While all olive oil comes from the fruit of olive trees, it’s not all created equal. Extra-virgin olive oil is unrefined and made from pure, cold-pressed olives, giving it more of a true olive taste. Regular olive oil is made from a blend of both cold-pressed and processed oils. I typically cook with extra-virgin olive oil when deciding between the two. Olive oil has a lower smoke point than many other oils, making it better for lower temperature cooking. Save pricey olive oils for finishing the recipe where the flavors will really shine – like in dips, for breads and salad dressing.

white beans with garlic infused oil and cheese in blender

blended smooth rosemary white bean dip in blender

How to Make Rosemary White Bean Dip

Infuse the olive oil with garlic and rosemary. Heat olive oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and rosemary sprigs and cook, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant and lightly browned.
Cool and strain the oil. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain into a measuring cup and set aside, discarding the garlic and rosemary.
Blend the dip. Combine the beans, ½ cup of the infused oil, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Add more oil 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed for a smoother consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve. Spoon dip into a serving dish and drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil on top (or more if desired) and garnish with chopped rosemary. Serve with focaccia or other rustic bread.

Tips and Tricks for This Recipe

How to Make White Bean Dip Ahead of Time

This dip can easily be made ahead of time, up to 4 days in advance. I happen to think it tastes even better the next day after the flavors have some time to meld together. Store the rosemary white bean dip refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use.

Swaps and Substitutions

If you don’t prefer rosemary, this recipe can also be made with another fresh herb like thyme.
If needed you can swap the Parmesan for Pecorino Romano cheese.
While hard cheeses like Parmesan have low-lactose content, the cheese can be omitted if needed to make it vegan.

How to Make this Recipe with Cooked Beans

I use canned beans as a shortcut in this recipe though soaked and cooked dried beans can also be used. Soak the dried cannellini beans overnight then boil in water until tender, about 2 hours. Drain and use as directed in the recipe. Substitute 1½ cups of the cooked cannellini beans for 1 (15-ounce) can of beans.

Serving Suggestions

While my favorite way to serve this white bean dip is paired with grilled bread or crostini, try pairing it with sliced veggies, pita chips or crackers. You can also spread the white bean dip as you would hummus on wraps and sandwiches to add additional flavor.