Hummus is a popular food item in the Middle Eastern countries and can be used in a variety of ways. You can fill a sandwich with it, use it as a dip with various breads, or chips, crackers and even eat it as raw vegetable. The word hummus in Arabic means chickpeas which form the main part of this tasty dish. Other than the fact that it is delicious, hummus is also a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins, fiber, iron, amino acids and mono-unsaturated fats. Hummus is now widely available in grocery stores but it could be very pricey because of the ingredients used. What you may not know is the fact that all these ingredients are widely available in super markets and you can put them all together to make a fantastic batch of hummus right at your home. Listed below is one easy guide to help you out in preparing this yummy dish.
Complexity Level: Basic
Time Required: 20 to 30 minutes
Resources Required:
- I cup dried chickpeas
- 3 cloves of raw garlic
- 1/3 cup sesame tahini
- Juice from one lemon
- 1 tea spoon cumin
- 2 table spoons olive oil
- 1 tea spoon salt
- 3/4 tea spoon black pepper
- 1 bulb roasted garlic (optional)
- Chopped parsley
- Food processor
- Colander
- Bowl
- Spatula
- Sauce pan
Instructions:
1. Preparations
- Mash the garlic pods and then mince it lightly.
- Squeeze the lemon juice from the lemon. You should get at least three tablespoons of juice.
- Measure 1/3rd cup tahini paste and keep it ready.
2. Cook the chickpeas
- Soak the dried chickpeas in some cold water over night or for at least 6 hours.
- Drain and rinse well under running water and then place it in a colander to completely dry.
- Place a saucepan on medium heat and add 1 quart water.
- Bring to a continuous boil and add the drained chickpeas.
- Reduce heat, cover and cook until tender. It should take approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
- Once done, drain off the liquid, but reserve some for later use.
3. Make the hummus
- Into a food processor add the minced garlic, cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, pepper and olive oil and pulse a couple of times to get a thick and fluffy paste.
- Scrape down the sides and check if all the chickpeas have been pureed and mixed well with the garlic.
- Add enough salt and taste it to check t.
- Add the reserved water to the mixture, one tablespoon at a time and continue blending to achieve the required consistency.
- The hummus should be very smooth. So, go easy on the water.
4. Serving
- Spoon the mixture into a serving dish and smooth it out in big circles using the bottom of a spoon.
- Create a sort of well in the center and add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil.
- Garnish with some chopped parsley or more garlic.
- Serve alongside chips, bread and crackers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can you suggest some hummus variations?
If you want to jazz up your hummus then there are a couple of variations to the traditional one. Try drizzling some pomegranate molasses on top or add a couple of table spoons of harissa for a little kick. If you want a roasted vegetable hummus then roast a few vegetables like eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini and garlic and then blend them to a smooth consistency. Adding some chopped olives or lightly toasted pine nuts and walnuts would add to the texture. But do so at the end by just folding them in. A squeeze of lemon juice or some chopped preserved lemon can also highly accentuate the taste.
2. How can I store hummus?
Hummus can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and if you choose to freeze it, then you can do so for up to a month. If the hummus appears to be a bit dry when you take it out, then drizzle some olive oil on top to bring it back to normal consistency.
Quick Tips:
- Instead of cooking your chickpeas, you can also use canned chickpeas which are an easier option.
- For a spicier version of the hummus you can add some cayenne pepper or a sliced chill.
- You can also make hummus without the tahini. Just follow the same procedure as above.
Things To Watch Out For:
- If you choose the wrong tahini for the hummus, it can drastically affect the flavor. Go for the canned roasted tahini which gives you a nuttier and milder flavor.
- Diluting the hummus too much will ruin it and there would be nothing you can do.
