dip in and relish in the sauciness of life!

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can black beans, drained/ rinsed
• 1 Tbsp minced chipotle pepper in adobo
• 4 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups corn kernels
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 ripe avocados
• 4 medium tomatoes diced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion
• 1 Tbsp finely diced jalapeno pepper
• 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar

Directions

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.

Put half of the onion mixture into a food processor with the black beans, chipotle pepper, 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, cumin, water and salt. Puree until smooth. Set aside.

Add the corn to the skillet with the remaining onion mixture and cook for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro leaves.

In a small bowl mash the avocado with the remaining lime juice. In a medium bowl toss together the tomatoes, scallion and jalapeno, if using. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spread the black bean dip into the bottom of an 8 by 8 glass baking or serving dish. Top with the corn mixture, spreading it out to form a single layer over the beans, repeat with the avocado, then the tomatoes. Top with cheese. Serve with baked chips.

• 10-ounce frozen lima beans
• 4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced 
• Kosher salt 
• 1 jalapeno, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped jarred roasted red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 Roma tomato, finely diced 
• 1 ear or 1/2 C yellow or white corn
• 1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the lima beans and cook, uncovered, until very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well and cool slightly.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet set over medium-heat. Add the onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, uncovered, until lightly browned in spots, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the jalapeno and garlic and cook until the jalapeno is tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lima beans and bell pepper. Cool the mixture slightly.

Place the vegetable mixture in a food processor along with 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil, 2 tablespoons water, the vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Season with additional vinegar if desired.

Transfer the dip to a small serving bowl. Gently stir together the tomato, corn, remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Right before serving, stir the parsley into the tomato-and-corn mixture and use a slotted spoon to scoop it on top of the dip. Serve with dippers such as blue corn tortilla chips and vegetables.

• 1/3 cup whole natural almonds
• 1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, drained
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon shallot
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the nuts on a baking sheet and toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let cool.

Put the nuts into a processor and finely chop. Add pepper, vinegar and shallots to the bowl and process until smooth. While the processor is running, drizzle the oil into the bowl. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Recipe by: Ellie Krieger

• 1 eggplant
• 1 glove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Prick eggplant with a fork and place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Bake the eggplant until it is soft inside, about 20 minutes. Alternatively, grill the eggplant over a gas grill, rotating it around until the skin is completely charred, about 10 minutes. Let the eggplant cool. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise, drain off the liquid, and scoop the pulp into a food processor. Process the eggplant until smooth and transfer to a medium bowl.

On a cutting board, work garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt together with the flat side of a knife, until it forms a paste. Add the garlic-salt mixture to the eggplant. Stir in the parsley, tahini, and lemon juice. Season with more salt, to taste. Garnish with additional parsley.

Recipe provided by: Ellie Krieger

• 2 cups plain whole milk yogurt
• 1/4 English hothouse cucumber, small dice (about 3/4 cup)
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Serving Suggestion: Assortment of vegetables such as green beans, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, roasted beets, or boiled potatoes

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt, cucumber, dill, coriander, red pepper flakes, vinegar, and salt until evenly combined. Season well with freshly ground black pepper, taste, and adjust seasoning, as needed. Serve with an assortment of vegetables for dipping.

Recipe provided by: Aida  Mollenkamp

• 1 (1 1/2-pound) eggplant or 3 Japanese eggplants, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• Olive oil, for drizzling, plus 1/3 cup
• Kosher salt, for seasoning, plus 1/2 teaspoon
• Freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning, plus 1/4 teaspoon
• 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/3 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 hothouse cucumber, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and place an oven rack in the middle.

Place the eggplant on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Set aside to cool.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cooled eggplant, beans, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup of olive oil until the mixture is creamy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Place the hummus in a dipping bowl and serve with the cucumber slices. Alternatively, spoon the hummus over the cucumber slices and arrange on a serving platter.

Recipe provided by: Giada De Laurentiis