Your average queso spread is a nutritional nightmare, a shellacking of dairy and oil that fills guts without much to offer beyond saturated fat. Dinner wrecker, that.
This one, designed with toddlers in mind, is different. Taking inspiration from vegan cheese spreads, a whole can of beans goes in there–as does some cashews–to provide fiber and protein; the use of a bit of cream cheese ensures a creamy texture kids will love. Don’t worry: there’s still a bunch of shredded cheese going in here–and you can add even more, if you choose. In short: the taste and texture are on point with what you’d find in a Tex-Mex restaurant–you just won’t have any guilt or regret about serving it to your child on a weeknight. Makes a great side on taco night, or as an afternoon snack on lazy weekends!
We default to spooning the dip on tortilla chips or crackers; you can also layer on top of a burger or deli meat in a sandwich. Just move quick: it will congeal and harden pretty soon after being removed from heat.
Nothing stopping you from using another bean lying around–say, black beans or chickpeas. You can add vegetables–as our hummus does–by steaming carrots until soft, then tossing in the blender when you puree the white beans.
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
