Recipe: Creamy White Bean Spread with Asiago Crackers

Asiago Chips

Take a bigger bite out of life! Every day is a holiday with BiteMeMore.com.

Today is the one day of the year that it’s acceptable to chow down on crackers over your keyboard. Forget diving into store bought packages because these savory Asiago Crackers (served with a Creamy White Bean Dip), are easy to make at home.

Ingredients

Asiago Crackers
11/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
2 cups grated Asiago cheese
1/2 cup sour cream

White Bean Spread
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
11/2 cups canned white kidney (cannellini) beans, rinsed well and drained
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp water
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions

Asiago Crackers

1) In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in cold butter until you have coarse crumbs. Toss in Asiago cheese. Add sour cream and stir until dough comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 2 and roll each half into a 11/2-inch diameter log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours before slicing.

2) Preheat oven to 325°F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3) Slice logs into 1/8-inch thick slices and place on prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each. Bake for 10 minutes, flip crackers over and bake another 10 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. Can be prepared ahead of time, cooled and stored in an airtight container.

Yield: 50 crackers

White Bean Spread

1) In a small skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and turn heat off immediately. Allow garlic to sit in the oil for 30 seconds and then strain out garlic pieces, reserving the flavored oil. Set aside to cool slightly and discard garlic from the sieve.

2) In a food processor, combine white beans, reserved garlic flavored olive oil, lemon juice, water, thyme, salt, black pepper and cayenne. Process until smooth, about 20 seconds. The dip may be refrigerated a few hours ahead of serving. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Yield: 11/2 cups

For more crumbs around your cap lock key, try these buttery Sugar Cookies.

Bite Me More

Whether it’s cruising the aisles at the Dollar Store or experimenting at the stove, we believe that every day can be a holiday.