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White Bean and Almond Hummus with Cinnamon Spiced Carrots

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When I was in New Zealand for my honeymoon, I went to a tapas restaurant in a town called Wanaka and we had these roasted, spiced carrots over an almond hummus. It was so delicious and I decided I needed to try my own version once we got back. And that’s exactly what I did! I find that adding a little flare to veggie dishes make them so much more exciting and delicious. Having some sort of sauce or dip always elevates the flavor and makes a dish feel special!

Ingredients

(Serves 2)

For the carrots

  • 6 carrots, sliced in half lengthwise

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil 

  • ¼ tsp cinnamon

  • ¼ tsp cumin

  • ¼ tsp salt

For the white bean and almond hummus

  • 1 15.5 ounce can cannellini beans (or 1 ½ cups cooked beans)

  • 3 tbsp almond butter

  • ¼ cup olive oil

  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

  • ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper 

  • 1 tbsp water


Directions:

Served here with a lentils and cinnamon and paprika spiced cauliflower

Served here with a lentils and cinnamon and paprika spiced cauliflower

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees

  • Toss carrots with avocado oil, cinnamon, cumin, and salt. Place on a baking sheet and roast for about 45 minutes, tossing occasionally until tender and browned. 

  • Meanwhile, prepare the hummus by combining beans, almond butter, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and water in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. If too thick, add another tbsp of water.

  • Spread hummus on a serving plate and place slightly cooled carrots on top. Garnish with parsley (optional)

NOTES: Other white beans, such as butter beans, will also work here! Using dried beans are a better bang for your buck. Also, canned beans can be high in sodium, so if you have the time and ability to forward-plan, I recommend using dry beans (soak them and cook them), but if you’re like me, I resort to using the canned kind most of the time! 

Health Benefits of Cannellini Beans:

  • They are an inexpensive source of high-quality protein, which keeps us full and our muscles working properly. A half cup gives you about 8 grams of protein!

  • White beans are an excellent source of insoluble fibre, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system. 

  • Their high soluble fiber content can help provide you with stable energy levels throughout the day and also helps to remove toxins from our bodies.

  • Cannellini beans are rich in magnesium, which aids in optimizing blood flow and keeping arteries healthy

  • They help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, which is important in preventing diabetes

Sources and additional reading: