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 was a hit at my Halloween party; everyone loved the playful presentation and great 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 especially enjoys making the bat shapes together; it’s become a fun Halloween tradition.
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.
Nutritional Information
Calories 180 Total Fat 5 g Carbohydrates 28 g Protein 6 g per serving
Save This dip is sure to be the centerpiece of your Halloween spread; enjoy the compliments and the fun atmosphere it creates.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I shape the dip into bats?
Spread the smooth black bean dip thickly on a large platter, then use a spatula to sculpt bat shapes about 1/2 inch thick. Use sliced olives and cherry tomatoes to create eyes for added detail.
- → Can I make this dip vegan?
Yes, substitute the sour cream with a plant-based alternative like vegan sour cream or cashew cream to keep it vegan-friendly.
- → What chips work best for the wings?
Blue corn tortilla chips add a dramatic wing effect and a nice crunch, but any sturdy tortilla chip will work well.
- → How can I add extra heat to the dip?
Adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dip mixture will introduce a subtle spicy kick without overpowering the flavors.
- → How should I store leftovers?
Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep chips and fresh veggies separate to retain crispness.