(Easy) Butter Bean Dip Bento Box for BLW
Table of Contents
Butter Beans: A Creamy Delight
Butter beans, also known as lima beans, are delightful little legumes that have captured the hearts and taste buds of many. These greenish-white beans are buttery and creamy in texture, hence their name. They are widely used in various cuisines around the world, adding a rich and velvety touch to any dish they are incorporated into.
Nutritionally, butter beans are a powerhouse. Packed with fibre, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals, they are a fantastic addition to a balanced diet. Butter beans are especially great for vegetarians and vegans, as they are an excellent source of plant-based protein. They also contain iron, which is vital for maintaining a healthy blood count, and folate, which supports cell growth and development.
When it comes to culinary uses, butter beans are incredibly versatile. They can be added to soups, stews, salads, and casseroles, providing a buttery flavour and creamy consistency to the dish. Butter beans can also be mashed and transformed into a luscious puree, perfect for spreading on toast or using as a dip, as I have done here in this recipe. Their mild flavor allows them to absorb the tastes of other ingredients, making them a wonderful canvas for experimenting with different spices and herbs.
Butter beans are a true culinary gem with their buttery, creamy texture and nutritional benefits. However you enjoy them, butter beans are sure to elevate any dish with their unique flavour. So, don't hesitate to embrace the versatility of butter beans and let your taste buds revel in their creamy delight.
I love butter beans and I find they are a great bean for kids as they are quite bland in taste! But this means they soak up all the flavour with mostly anything!
I decided to make a dip for this bento box as I’m not sure this is a go to for a lunch for your toddler! This is the reason as to why I decided to make this recipe as it is so tasty and yet so fun to eat, why don’t we give our kids more nutritious dips as part of a meal.
This is obviously great if your little ones are following a plant based or dairy free diet and if your little one is nut free, all you will need to do is omit the desiccated coconut!
I have used bread sticks, cucumber and red pepper as the crudités but you could use whatever you have and of course your little one’s favourites.
This is such a fun lunch idea for your little ones and I know we all need a little inspiration here and there!
I like the fact that hopefully you will have all of these things in the cupboard which you can easily whip up a memorable lunch!
I hope you try this recipe and I would love to know what you think. Leave me a comment at the end of this blog post.
Ingredient information
Butter beans - Yummy butter beans, packed full of fibre! They are so delicious in a dip and I think really versatile when flavour is added to them!
Onion granules - I always have onion granules and either garlic powder and garlic granules in my store cupboard! So handy to use in recipes!
Curry powder - I have used a mild curry powder as this is suitable from 6 months! If you were making this for yourself, you could add in a little chilli or hotter curry powder.
Cucumber - My son has recently been eating a lot of cucumber so this seemed perfect to include in this recipe.
Red pepper - Red peppers are a great finger food, if you wanted to grill them for a little bit to soften the flesh you absolutely could!
Desiccated coconut - I have marked this as optional, as it is a little garnish and if your little one was nut free you could leave this out.
Serving suggestion
As always these bento boxes are designed as a complete meal or snack for your little ones! However if you wanted to serve this with anything else you could serve with sliced toast fingers, or even sliced bread, some chopped up fruit of your choice and some Greek yogurt.
Storage instructions
You could make this ahead of time, for example you could make this on a Sunday and have it ready for the week! As this will keep up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. You could freeze the dip as well for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Defrosting butter bean dip is a simple task that requires just a bit of patience. To begin, remove the container of frozen butter bean dip from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for several hours, or even overnight, allowing it to thaw slowly. The gradual thawing process preserves the smooth and creamy texture of the dip, ensuring a delightful taste. For those in a hurry, a quicker method involves placing the sealed container in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes until the butter bean dip has completely thawed. Once thawed, the dip is ready to be enjoyed, whether as a delicious appetizer or a creamy spread for sandwiches. Defrosting butter bean dip allows its flavours to shine, inviting you to savour every luscious bite.
Recipe | Butter Bean Dip Bento Box
Ingredients
Makes 1 bento box for little tummies!
1 400g tin butter beans, water included
1 teaspoon dried onion granules
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/2 breadstick
1/4 red pepper, cut into sticks
6 sticks cucumber
Desiccated coconut (optional)
Instructions
Start by popping the butter beans with the water into the food processor or blender, followed by the onion granules and curry powder! (You can add in 2 teaspoons of curry powder if you want a more intense flavour)
I use 2 silicone cups in the bento box and place the bean dip in the 2 cups!
Half the breadstick, and pop into the dip! Sprinkle with the coconut if you like!
Pop in the red pepper and cucumber into the other 2 compartments and you are good to go!
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
If you didn’t have butter beans, you could use, cannellini beans, haricot bean, pinto beans! Or any canned beans you have in water! Get experimenting, with flavours and textures!
©The Petit Spoon
Content and photographs are copyright protected and need prior permission to use elsewhere. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to other websites and any social media is strictly prohibited. Sharing and using the link of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated! Share this post now!
