Tax Day: Black Bean Dip

This - in my opinion - is a seriously awesome dip. It is easy, delicious, fun, and cheap! Cheap being the keyword for April 15th, US Income Tax deadline day. Hopefully this tax season wasn't too hard on your wallet, but if you are watching your pennies - here is a great, cheap dish for a party or for a quick meal.

Black Bean Dip

Ingredients
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 sweet onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tomato, chopped w/juice
1/2 lime, juiced
Handful cilantro, chopped (optional to some, but not to me!)
Pinch of cumin
Swirl of extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt/freshly ground pepper
Splash of broth/stock (if needed)

Steps
1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil on medium heat in a saucepan for a few minutes or until softened (but not browned).

2. Add black beans and lime juice and stir to combine with other ingredients. Let cook for about 5 minutes.

3. Add tomato and cumin; stir to combine. Let cook for approximately 10 minutes, maybe a little more. You are looking for the sweet moment when the beans begin to mush on their own and it starts to look like a dip rather than a bowl of ingredients. Trust me, you'll see it!

4. If the beans begin to stick to the bottom of the pot during cooking (which they usually do) or the beans look a little dry, add a splash or two of vegetable stock/broth (you can use chicken also if that is what you have).

5. As the dip is starting to come together, taste for seasoning and add salt/pepper to suit your tastes.

6. Once done (you want the beans to be a little smashed, but not a uniform mixture), turn off heat and add chopped cilantro. This not necessary if you really dislike cilantro, which I've recently realized that a lot of people do, but I think it is what makes the flavor awesome. The decision is yours :)

7. Serve warm with tortilla chips (we LOVE Tostito's lime chips), pita chips or use it in tacos, burritos, whatever. Would also be great with grilled chicken.

This dip is easily updated to make enough for a big crowd - just add some more beans and up the other ingredients proportionally. It really doesn't matter if you have a little less onion or a little more garlic. Enjoy!