Homemade Hummus – Simply the Best!

Once you start making your own hummus, you probably won’t go back to store-bought! It’s so fresh, creamy, and incredibly versatile. There’s a huge array of possibilities to always make it taste a little different than the last time. This is my basic recipe that I love and always come back to after exploring various flavors. Ready in less than 10 minutes without any fancy ingredients!

You will need:

• high speed blender or good quality food processor

Ingredients:

• 10 oz (285 g) cooked chickpeas (if you use canned chickpeas, drain them)
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbsp tahini, well stirred
• 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3/4 – 1 tsp Celtic sea salt
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 -1/2 tsp ground cumin (optional)

to garnish:

• more paprika, extra virgin olive oil, and some parsley

Preparation:

Place all the ingredients, except the ones for garnish, into your high speed blender or food processor. If you use a food processor, you might have to chop the garlic first. However, if you use a high speed blender, no need to do that. Just accelerate to high speed, and blend for about one minute. Scrape down the sides, and blend for another 1/2 minute. This might take longer in the food processor, so just blend until your hummus is very smooth.

Scrape the hummus into a small serving bowl and give it a little swirl with a spoon. Sprinkle some paprika on it, if you wish, and drizzle with more olive oil. Garnish with some parsley, because I think a little green dresses it up to perfection.

Serve and enjoy!

Notes:

• I always cook a huge batch of chickpeas/garbanzo beans and freeze them in smaller portions. I don’t add any salt. Feel free to use canned (and drained) garbanzo beans, just keep in mind that they might already be salted. If this is the case, add less salt!
• If you feel like exploring, here are some ideas to change things up a little. Instead of turmeric and cumin you could add roasted red peppers / roasted hot peppers / a couple cloves roasted garlic / sundried tomatoes / roasted pine nuts.
• Besides being the perfect dip for raw veggies, hummus is amazing in wraps (falafel/hummus/veggies is the best!), as a spread on your sandwich, on a mediterranean platter, as a topping on your salad, and just by itself to spoon out of the bowl.