How to Make Hummus
How to Make Hummus
Learning how to make hummus can be a lot of fun, and since hummus is so nutritious and delicious, you will find that making your own, as opposed to buying it, can help you save money. Hummus is very popular in Middle Eastern cooking as a dip. Hummus is a very versatile dish that can be used in so many ways, including as sandwich filing, to dip your pita chips triangles in, or to spread on crackers, chips, or raw vegetables. Hummus is considered a vegan food. There are a number of basic hummus recipes out there. All of them call for tahina, which is a simple paste of sesame seeds that is a cornerstone in Middle Eastern cuisine. You can use whatever brand of tahini that you like in your hummus, but it is not advisable to substitute any other ingredient for it. You can buy tahina already prepared in a can at grocery stores that carry Middle Eastern foods, or you can make your own. Either way, it is the most essential part of any hummus recipe, and learning how to make hummus means following the recipe exactly.
The following will help you learn how to make hummus quickly and easily:
Sixteen ounces chickpeas
1/4th cup water from chickpeas
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoons tahini
2 cloves crushed garlic
½ teaspoon salt or salt substitute equivalent
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
Drain the chickpeas and set aside 1/4th cup liquid from the can. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender. Stir in the liquid that you reserved earlier. Blend for three to five minutes on low speed until smooth and mixed thoroughly.
Place in a serving bowl. Using a spoon, create a shallow well shape within the center of the hummus in the bowl. In the well, add one tablespoon of olive oil. Serve right away.
Now that you know how to make hummus, you can refrigerate it for up to three days, or free it for up to a month. If the hummus tastes a bit dry after a day or two, you can revive it with a bit of olive oil. When selecting tahini for your hummus recipe, keep in mind that raw tahini will have a more bitter flavor and be a bit stronger, while roasted and canned tahini will have a nuttier, milder flavor. Which you prefer is a matter of personal taste.