Nutty, Tangy, Lemony HUMMUS Recipe

I couldn’t be prouder of my Hummus Recipe just because it tastes so legit! even better than what I’ve had in restos, quite frankly. It’s smooth, creamy, fluffy and just satisfying!

I absolutely love Mediterranean cuisine hence my go-to restaurant if the husband and I get into the never ending back and forth question, “So where do you want to eat?” is CYMA Greek Taverna. Everything in their menu is just bursting with flavor.

HUMMUS makes a wonderful snack or appetizer served with warm, chewy pita bread and fresh grilled veggies. Just perfect to dig in any time of the day!

Ingredients:

• 2 cans chickpeas (so you can set aside for movie night! or just for whenever you crave for it)
• lemon juice from 3-4 pieces of lemon
• 3-4 cloves garlic (grated is best)
• 3-4 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil – ha! you learned that from me!)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda (if you’re using chickpeas in a can)
• salt to taste
• 2-3 tsp cumin
• paprika (for garnish)
• finely chopped parsley (for garnish)
• TAHINI (quick recipe below)
• Pita Pockets (I bought mine from Village Gourmet)

Quick & Easy TAHINI Recipe: Toast 3/4 cup hulled sesame seeds (these are the lighter colored sesame seeds) in a pan sans oil. When it turns light brown, take them out of the pan and let it cool for 5 minutes or so. In a blender, throw in the toasted sesame seeds, blend until it turns soft and crumbly. Add 2-3 tbsp of olive oil until you get that consistency you want. Sprinkle with salt to taste and give it one last run on the blender. DONE! 🙂

Let’s make Hummus:

1. Place chickpeas in a pan well enough to cover them with water. Add baking soda and bring it to a boil (about 20-25 minutes). Remove them from the heat when you see the skin is peeling off and bloated-looking. Drain them in a strainer and run cool water. Set aside.
2. In a blender, mix together lemon juice, grated garlic and salt. Let it sit for a few minutes. Next, add in the tahini and cumin. Mix well until soft and creamy. Give it a taste to see if it needs more salt or if you want a bit more garlic in there.
3. If your mixture gets too thick, add a few tablespoons of olive oil or water to balance the consistency.
4. Lastly, add in the chickpeas in your blender. Run it a several times until you reach the smooth and creamy texture of that perfect Hummus. (you can always add a bit more of olive oil or water to smoothen the texture as appropriate)
5. Prepare your Pita Pockets (quickly warm them in a pan). Place just the right amount of Hummus dip in a bowl, drizzle with a little bit of cumin (optional) and paprika then sprinkle with finely chopped parsley. Voi-la!