Expanding your food horizons: Hummus

Courtesy of www.sxc.hu

Hummus is a popular dip at Greek and Mediterranean inspired restaurants worldwide.  It is composed of chickpeas or garbanzo beans, tahini, which is a sesame seed paste, and other ingredients that may make it more classic or more gourmet depending on the taste.

It is frequently served with slices of warmed or toasted pita bread as an appetizer or hor d'oeuvre.

Hummus is versatile and can be used not only as a dip but also as a spread on wraps and sandwiches.  It gives a wonderful creamy, buttery and garlic flavor to whatever it accompanies.

Following are two different recipes for hummus.  One is a classic version and the other is more gourmet.  Both are easier to make then one would have thought.

Classic Hummus (from www.mediterrasian.com)

• 2 cloves garlic - roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 14 oz. can chichpeas (garbanzo beans) rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth, scraping the sides occasionally. 

Smoky Chipotle Hummus with Bagel Chips (from www.epicurious.com)

• 2 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
• 1/2 cup water 
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)* 
• 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 1/2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilies** 
• 1 large garlic clove, minced 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 
• 1 4-ounce jar sliced pimientos in oil, drained 
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro 
• 2 6-ounce packages roasted-garlic bagel chips