Hummus

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that hummus is addictive, or at least the home made version seems to be! It’s such a simple thing to make with simple ingredients and tastes delicious. As an added bonus, it’s rich in protein!  Ideally you will need some type of food processor to make it in as this will give you the best consistency.

To make a delicious bowlful you will need:

• 1 tin of chickpeas (drain them but keep the liquid from the tin – you will use this to adjust the consistency of the finished hummus)
• 1 fat clove of garlic, peeled
• 2 tablespoons of tahini (sesame seed paste)
• ½ teaspoon of chilli powder, or some chopped fresh or dried chilli to taste
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• the juice of ½ a lemon

Method:

• keep about a tablespoon of the chickpeas to one side to use as a garnish
• apart from the liquid from the chickpea tin, place everything else into a food processor and blitz for a few seconds

• check the consistency of the hummus – at this stage I would add about ½ of the liquid from the tin to make a softer mixture, but you may prefer to use more or less than this
• blitz for a few seconds more and then tip the hummus into a bowl for serving
• make a small hollow in the middle and pour in a little extra virgin olive oil
• scatter the tablespoon of chickpeas on top as a garnish
• add any other garnishes you like – fresh coriander, a sprig or two of mint, a pinch of paprika or a drizzle of lemon juice all work well

There are lots of ways to enjoy your home made hummus  – it’s great served with soft flatbreads fresh from the oven, or as a dip with sticks of raw fresh vegetables. For supper tonight I spread it thickly onto a slice of toast, then topped it with sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, basil and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Delicious!