Hummus is a classic bean spread, popular as a mezze (appetizer) in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. Classic hummus doesn’t contain the ingredients such as roasted peppers, spinach, artichokes, or sun-dried tomatoes seen in many supermarket brands, but if you want to add any of these to your hummus, have fun being creative! You can serve hummus with pita bread or with cucumbers, radishes, carrots, and bell peppers.
Hummus
Recipe courtesy of Chef Joyce Goldstein
Serves 8
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cup (one 15-ounce can) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup sesame tahini (also called sesame butter)
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 to 2 tablespoons cold water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne red pepper (optional)
- ½ teaspoon cumin, ground (optional)
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Optional garnishes:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin, ground
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or Aleppo pepper
Preparation:
- In a food processor combine the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, water, salt, pepper, and optional spices, if desired. Pulse to combine.
- Add the chickpeas and process until smooth. You may need to add more water if the consistency is too thick. Add enough cold water to achieve a spreadable consistency.
- When you’re ready to serve, spoon the hummus onto a shallow plate. Note that if you make hummus ahead of time, the mixture will thicken as it stands, in which case you may need to thin it with water. Smooth the hummus with a spoon or spatula. If desired, sprinkle with olive oil, parsley, or other optional garnishes listed.