Description
Classic Mediterranean Layered Pesto Appetizer Dip showcases creamy cheese, herbal pesto, and roasted vegetables in elegant stacked presentation. Guests will savor complex flavors while enjoying this simple yet sophisticated party starter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 block (8 oz / 227 g) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel cheese)
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g) cannellini beans (organic or reduced-sodium), drained and rinsed
- ¼ – ⅓ cup (59 – 79 ml) fresh or refrigerated pesto
- ½ cup (118 ml) chopped artichoke hearts (canned, not marinated)
- ½ cup (118 ml) chopped roasted red peppers (jarred)
- 1–2 tbsps (15 – 30 ml) crumbled, reduced-fat feta cheese or tomato-basil-flavored feta
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- Kalamata olives, chopped or sliced into rings (optional)
Instructions
- Base Creation: Pulverize cannellini beans, cream cheese, and salt in a food processor until achieving an ultra-smooth, velvety consistency with zero granular texture.
- Plating Foundation: Meticulously spread the creamy bean mixture across a serving platter, creating an even, uniform landscape for subsequent layers.
- Pesto Integration: Gently cascade pesto over the cream cheese surface, maintaining a precise border to preserve visual elegance and structural integrity.
- Flavor Layering: Strategically distribute artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, and Kalamata olives across the pesto terrain, ensuring balanced coverage and aesthetic appeal.
- Finishing Touch: Delicately shower crumbled feta cheese atop the composition, introducing a sharp, briny note that harmonizes with underlying flavor profiles and provides textural complexity.
Notes
- Smooth Bean Base: Blend ingredients thoroughly to eliminate any lumps, creating a silky texture that serves as the perfect foundation for layering.
- Precise Spreading Technique: Use the back of a spoon or offset spatula to distribute each layer evenly, maintaining clean edges and a professional appearance.
- Flavor Balance Matters: Distribute toppings strategically to ensure every bite contains a harmonious mix of creamy, tangy, and briny elements.
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the dip for 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and achieve optimal consistency for easy spreading.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg