This is one of my favorite appetizers: a creamy, slightly sweet dip with a gentle smoky heat and a satisfying mix of textures. It’s my take on a popular dish I enjoyed at So Long Saloon, a small restaurant in Manhattan, Kansas.
Whenever I move to a new town I explore the local independent restaurants and collect favorite dishes to revisit. One downside of relocating with the Army every few years is leaving behind meals I love — but this dip is easy to recreate at home, so I don’t have to miss it.
After many visits to So Long Saloon near Fort Riley, I reverse-engineered the flavors and developed this clone recipe. The raspberry chipotle sauce is the key: you can often find jars near the BBQ sauces in well-stocked grocery stores. I usually use Bronco Bob’s when I can find it.
Raspberry Chipotle Black Bean Dip
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1 can black beans
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 block, 8-ozs. cream cheese
- 1/2 cup raspberry chipotle sauce
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
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Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it turns golden brown. Remove the pan from heat and transfer the cooked onion to a bowl to cool.
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Empty the can of black beans into the same pot. Add the kosher salt and ground cumin. Stir over medium heat, breaking up the beans with a spoon or potato masher as they warm. Continue cooking about 10 minutes, until excess liquid reduces and the beans reach a smooth-but-still-chunky texture. Remove from heat.
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Mix the cooled sautéed onion with the cream cheese in a bowl until well combined.
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Place the cream cheese mixture in the center of an oven-safe dish.
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Spoon the warm black beans around the cream cheese, forming a ring.
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Spoon a shallow well into the center of the cream cheese and pour the raspberry chipotle sauce into it.
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Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack cheese evenly over the top.
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Bake in a preheated 450°F oven just until the cheese melts and begins to bubble, then serve immediately with tortilla chips.
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Note: You can assemble this ahead of time and bake it just before serving, or reheat a plated portion in the microwave until the cheese melts.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used only as an approximation.