Here in the Ozarks, where I live, we have quite a few lakes and streams that you can boat or float on. It’s awesome! I truly believe this is one of the most beautiful places to live in the whole world. But, I can also see that I’m extremely biased on this point. 🙂
One of my favorite summer activities is spending a day out on the lake. You pack up a cooler of drinks and snacks and spend a day just hanging out on the water.
One snack that I make to bring with us on lake days is something that the George family calls Love Dip. It’s basically cream cheese and salsa blended together. I love it.Â
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This is a slightly more substantial version (the black beans as flavor as well as protein). If you’re in a hurry or just don’t like fresh food, you can totally make a version of this with just cream cheese, store-bought salsa, and black beans.
But since our CSA has brought us plenty of onions and cherry tomatoes lately, I think a fresh version is in order. This dip is great on a lake; just pack it in a container and throw it in the cooler until you’re ready for it.
Or you could make this as a delicious appetizer to take to a summer BBQ. Who doesn’t love chips and dip?!
Creamy Black Bean Dip, serves 6-8 as an appetizer or side.
15 ounces (one can) black beans, rinsed and drained
Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese*
3 cloves garlic
1 small onion (or half a medium-sized one)
2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
8 ounces cherry tomatoes (or any tomatoes you have/like)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder (or more if you like it spicy)
1 lime
salt and pepper to taste
*Pro tip: I usually use one reduced fat cream cheese and one regular. With how flavorful this dip is, you could easily use two reduced fat cream cheeses and no one will be the wiser. 🙂
The order you make this dip actually matters. It’s a texture thing. You gotta get the texture right on this one.
First we make salsa. In a food processor, pulse the garlic, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and juice from half the lime until well blended but still chunky. You don’t want this to be completely smooth. Pulse. Try not to eat all the salsa once made too; that’s a tough one.
Now we blend together the cream cheese, black beans, juice from the remaining half of lime, and cayenne. Just blend until smooth.
Stir (by hand) the salsa into the cream cheese mixture. Taste, and add salt and pepper to your liking.
Serve chilled with lots of tortilla chips. This dip is a somewhat funky color, so I like to garnish the top with a few black beans so everyone knows where that color is coming from. Enjoy! xo. Emma
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Ingredients
- 15 ounces one can black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 2 ounce 8-ounce packages cream cheese*
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion (or half a medium-sized one)
- 2-3 tablespoons cilantro (chopped )
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes (or any tomatoes you have/like)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder (or more if you like it spicy)
- 1 lime
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- First we make salsa. In a food processor, pulse the garlic, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and juice from half the lime until well blended but still chunky.You don't want this to be completely smooth. Pulse. Try not to eat all the salsa once made too; that's a tough one.Â
- Now we blend together the cream cheese, black beans, juice from the remaining half of lime, and cayenne. Just blend until smooth.Â
- Stir (by hand) the salsa into the cream cheese mixture. Taste, and add salt and pepper to your liking.Â
- Serve chilled with lots of tortilla chips. This dip is a somewhat funky color, so I like to garnish the top with a few black beans so everyone knows where that color is coming from. Enjoy!
Tried this and it’s delicious !
Simple yet very tasty and my dad loves dips 😉
Thank you for the recipe and keep it going, I love reading ABM
xx
Manon
This dip looks amazing! I’ve done salsa and sour cream but never cream cheese. I also never thought about black beans! I wonder if this would work with the sour cream? Wouldn’t be as thick obviously. What are your thoughts?
I really want to make this for a gathering this weekend! I have a baby that keeps my hands occupied the majority of the time though, so I’d love to know how much salsa to use instead of making my own? Is it kind of a add it till it tastes right kind of a thing? Or is there a specific measurement? Thanks so much!
YUM! Yup, this will go on the list of weekend punishers. Daiya makes a mean cream cheese these days too, so vegan is doable! Hooray!
xo
K
My family calls the salsa + cream cheese combo “pink dip”. So good.
Looks yummy and didn’t realize you lived in the Ozarks! I’m originally from Illinois…just a few hours away!
Hi Ashley! The clothing and accessory details are at the bottom of the post. Emma’s is from Ever+Mi Crush and Elsie’s is from Shop Sosie 🙂 – Jacki
Where are your adorable floral dresses from in that photo shoot?
Yumm!! A new must try party dip. Thanks for sharing.
This looks amazing. Will definitely have to try this recipe this weekend. 🙂
This looks delicious!
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yuuummm this looks deelish! Love that you added some black beans for protein and low fat cream cheese to keep the calories down…this makes a perfect snack!!
Pinned it! My husband has become hooked on black beans lately and I’m constantly on the lookout for new black bean recipes. Since we do love our chips and dips this looks the perfect snack for us.
I love tortilla chips! I have some right now (a rare thing) so I might make some of this and enjoy it 🙂
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Ooo! This looks lovely I must give this a go 🙂
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I could devour this! I’m the biggest salsa fan AND cream cheese.. it looks delicious. I see why it’s called Love dip!
Bec x
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Love simple dip recipes! Thanks for this
Can you make this again?
-Josh
I love Love Dip but I’ve never thought to add black beans (I’ve also never heard it called love dip before) sounds delish!! Question: if I were to be lazy and just use store bought salsa should I still add the lime juice and cayenne to the cream cheese mixture? Can’t wait to try it out! 🙂
This dip looks bomb! I was born in KCMO and lived there until I was 8 and I’m convinced that’s where I learned to love dip — especially Rotel + Velveeta. Oh god. So good.