Save A festive and playful Halloween appetizer featuring a creamy black bean dip, shaped into bats and served with colorful veggies and crunchy chips.
This dip has become a Halloween favorite at my parties; everyone loves the spooky presentation and delicious flavors.
Ingredients
- Black Bean Dip: 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Decoration & Serving: 1/2 cup sliced black olives (for bat eyes), 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (for garnish), 1 cup baby carrots, 1 cup cucumber slices, 2 cups tortilla chips (preferably blue corn for wings), 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for extra garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- In a food processor, combine black beans, garlic, sour cream, lime juice, cilantro, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Blend until very smooth. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Step 2:
- Transfer the bean dip to a large serving platter. Use a spatula to spread and shape the dip into several bat shapes (or one large bat) about 1/2 inch thick.
- Step 3:
- Place two sliced black olives on each bat for eyes. Add small pieces of cherry tomato or cheddar cheese in the olive centers for pupils, if desired.
- Step 4:
- Arrange blue corn tortilla chips along the sides of each bat to create wings.
- Step 5:
- Garnish the platter with baby carrots, cucumber slices, and remaining cherry tomatoes around the bats for a festive look.
- Step 6:
- Serve immediately with extra chips and veggies for dipping.
Save My family eagerly looks forward to this platter every October; it adds a playful touch to our Halloween celebrations.
Required Tools
Food processor or blender, spatula, large serving platter, knife
Allergen Information
Contains dairy (sour cream optional cheese), chips may contain corn check labels for gluten or other allergens, always verify ingredient labels for cross-contamination risks
Nutritional Information
Calories 180, Total Fat 5 g, Carbohydrates 28 g, Protein 6 g per serving
Save This spooky bat bean dip is sure to be the highlight of your Halloween party; enjoy the festive fun and flavors!
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I achieve a smooth texture for the bean dip?
Blend the beans thoroughly in a food processor with sour cream, lime juice, and seasonings until very smooth, scraping sides as needed.
- → What can I use as a vegan alternative to sour cream?
Swap sour cream for plant-based yogurt or cashew cream to maintain creaminess without dairy.
- → How do I create the bat shapes for the dip?
Spread the dip on a platter with a spatula and sculpt bat shapes about 1/2 inch thick, using black olive slices for eyes and garnish details.
- → Can I add heat to the bean dip?
Yes, a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika can be added to give subtle warmth without overpowering flavors.
- → What chips work best for the wings?
Blue corn tortilla chips are ideal for wings due to their color and sturdy texture, but any crunchy chip works well.
- → How should I serve the platter for best presentation?
Arrange the chips around the bat shapes as wings and surround with colorful veggies like carrots, cucumber slices, and cherry tomatoes for festive appeal.