Easy vegan black bean dip with lime onions is an oil-free, flavorful infusion of spices for a delicious dip that’s scoopable to the end of the bowl.
This creamy black bean dip is one of several healthy dips we love, like zesty beet dip, sweet potato hummus, or avocado guasacaca. Perfect for healthy snacking and game day spreads.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- An oil-free black bean dip recipe that replaces olive oil or cream cheese with aquafaba – the juice from a can of beans. Creamy texture straight from the can!
- With a handful of ingredients, lime pickles take minutes to make for a delicious dip with vibrant color.
- This recipe is more flavor than pure hot spice, but you can ramp up the mild flavor by adding more chili powder or cayenne pepper.
Ingredients, Notes, and Substitutions
Red onion. I diced a medium red onion to make it easier to scoop up on a chip. Once you learn to make these red onions for wraps or chili, you can also slice them.
Fresh lime juice. Acids are an essential pickling agent, but that doesn’t mean vinegar. Citruses such as lime juice or lemon juice are potent acids. That's why we often use this in dressings.
Maple syrup. Adding just a little sweetener helps to mellow the lime juice's sharpness and highlights the red onions' natural sweetness.
Black beans. I usually use canned black beans for this recipe for convenience. However, if you cook your black beans from scratch, in a pressure cooker, or on the stovetop, it's no problem. Use 3 cups and reserve ¼ a cup of the cooking liquid. If you use frozen beans or don't have access to the cooking liquid, you can substitute vegetable broth or extra lime juice.
Spices. The spices are kept to 4 black bean essentials – cumin, coriander, chili powder, and smoked paprika. If you want a spicier dip, use homemade hot chili powder or hot smoked paprika, or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.
Recipe Variations
Transition this easy black bean dip idea to a chipotle black bean dip by adding a few chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Blend them with the black beans. This adds a smoky, spicy flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix the onions, lime juice, maple syrup, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 2: Blend the black beans, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and smoked paprika in a food processor.
Step 3: Add 2 tablespoons of aquafaba, blend, and more as needed.
Step 4: Transfer the dip and mix in half the pickled onions. Garnish the dip with the rest of the onions.
Serving Suggestions
Fresh veggies or tortilla chips are classic black bean dippers. Honestly, it's like dipping refried black beans with sweet onions.
Looking for a healthy snack? Cut fresh corn tortillas and bake or air fry them to make homemade corn tortilla chips. I do this with homemade corn tortillas because I rarely have access to store-bought. Or use pita chips as a healthier option.
Turn this healthy bean dip into a black bean spread with wraps or as the base of a raw veggies pizza with slices of bell peppers and other fresh vegetables. Top that with pickled red onions and a little vegan cashew sour cream or sour cream with sunflower seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Before reserving it, let it warm to room temperature and stir it.
Like most legumes, black beans are a good source of fiber and are high protein, plant-based alternatives to meat products, which is why they are used in many vegan recipes. They are naturally low-fat and cholesterol-free and keep you feeling full.
The best substitute for black beans is pinto beans or soft white beans, like cannelloni. You can also use black Adzuki beans, which are a little firmer but taste similar to black beans. Kidney beans are sweeter and have tougher skins, but they make a pretty dip with red onions.
Quick pickling is a marinating process that involves activating natural sugars using an acid such as vinegar or citrus juice. These flavors soften foods and can impact their color, as in the case of red onions. Fermenting vegetables and other foods is more intense and involves using salt, time, and lactic acid bacteria. The taste of fermented food is also different regarding tartness, saltiness, and distinctiveness.
More Vegan Black Beans Recipes
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👩🏻🍳 Recipe
Easy Vegan Black Bean Dip with Lime Onions
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Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion - peeled and diced
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup - or date paste
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups cooked black beans - 2 cans, rinsed and drained, reserve ¼ of a cup of the liquid
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- To make the onions, combine ¼ a cup of lime juice, 1 teaspoon of maple syrup or another liquid sweetener, and ¼ a teaspoon of salt in a shallow bowl. Mix in the onions. Allow them to marinate for 30 minutes or more. Stir the onions a few times so that they pickle evenly.
- For the dip, combine the black beans, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and smoked paprika in a food processor or blender. Begin processing the ingredients.
- Add 2 tablespoons of aquafaba (bean liquid) and process. Add 1-2 more tablespoons as needed until the dip is smooth.
- Transfer the dip to a small bowl, then add half the onions and 1-2 tablespoons of lime juice. Mix the onions and lime juice with the bean dip. Have a taste and add salt or adjust the other seasonings if necessary.
- Garnish the dip with the rest of the onions and chopped fresh cilantro or parsley if desired.
Notes
- Makes about 3 cups.
- Store leftover dip in the refrigerator in a sealed container. This dip keeps well for 4 days. Stir before reserving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
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