Original Hummus

Not too long ago I posted a Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus recipe. I wanted to post the original hummus recipe as well. We have been making this pretty much every week. Very tasty!

Hummus

Source: Adapted from the Around the World in 450 Recipes Cookbook

Servings: 4-6
Note: if you have a small food processor, you may have to make this in two batches

1 cup canned chick-peas

1/2 cup Tahini

3 garlic cloves

2-3 lemons, juiced

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 

1/2 teaspoon paprika

salt and pepper to taste

Drain and rinse canned chick-peas. Save extra chick-peas and liquid. Set aside for later. Combine chick-peas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend well in food processor. Add olive oil and paprika and blend well (or instead of blending olive oil and paprika into the hummus, pour olive oil and sprinkle paprika over hummus). Transfer to serving bowl. Serve with vegetables or pita chips.

Step by Step

Rinse off those chick-peas and add to food processor.

Add tahini.

Add garlic.

Add lemon juice, salt and pepper. Blend well. Helpful Hint: start with the juice from 1 1/2 to 2 lemons and if you need more lemon flavor, add juice from a 3rd. Also, if you are using small lemons, you will most likely need 3. If you are using large lemons, you will most likely just need 1 1/2 to 2.

Add extra virgin olive oil and paprika and blend well. I was excited to use the paprika that my good friend and world traveler Kara got me in Istanbul, Turkey. Alternate Instructions: instead of blending the olive oil and paprika into the hummus, you can transfer hummus to serving bowl and pour olive oil and sprinkle paprika on top of the hummus. I personally like the method of blending everything together. When you blend in the olive oil it creates a smooth texture. When you blend in the paprika it adds more flavor and a little color!

HELPFUL HINT ABOUT FLAVOR AND TEXTURE AFTER ALL INGREDIENTS ARE BLENDED TOGETHER: if lemon flavor is too strong, add more chick-peas until desired flavor is reached. If you desire a smoother texture, add more liquid until desired texture is reached (start with 1 tablespoon liquid from canned chick-peas or 1 tablespoon olive oil).

I like a little extra texture in my hummus. I took some of the extra chick-peas, cut them in half and folded them into the hummus. Helpful Hint: be sure to remove the shell. Once you start cutting them the shell will start to come off naturally.

Transfer to serving bowl and serve with veggies or pita chips. I chose the pita's....