Quick and easy hummus recipe with five variations

April 7, 10:36 AMKnoxville Healthy Food ExaminerElizabeth Kelly

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Hummus is an easy recipe to master. (Wes Allison (Creative Commons)

Overspending at the gourmet shops? Make your own quick and easy hummus dip.

When you need a last-minute party appetizer, it's hard to resist stopping by Earth Fare and picking up a container of hummus. The chipotle variety alone is a reason to stop by even if you don't have a shindig in mind. Chop up some garden-fresh veggies or slice up a baguette, and you've got a quick, healthy dinner for one or two.

With the economy in the ditch, though, there's no good reason you need to spend gourmet shop prices on a dip that's such a quick fix. The main ingredient in hummus is a fifty-cent can of garbanzo beans, but the result is a Mediterranean-style dish that seems like more trouble than the 30 seconds it takes in a food processor.

The only pricey ingredient is tahini --a sesame seed paste that you can find at the International Market, the ethnic section of grocery stores, or in gourmet food shops. One jar costs between $5 and $7, but you will only use a small amount at a time. The jar will last you a year or two, and it keeps a long time (sort of like peanut butter).

Quick Basic Hummus Dip

1 can garbanzo beans, drained
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tbsp. tahini
1/4 cup olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic, to taste
1 pinch salt

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor and mix until smooth.

For a smoky Whole Foods-style chipotle variety, add about a tbsp. of chipotle peppers in adobo (look for a can in the Mexican foods section of the grocery). The variations on hummus are practically endless. Try adding one of the following: 1-2 whole roasted red peppers, 1/4 cup Kalamata (Greek) olives, 1 tbsp. fresh chopped jalapeno, or 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes. You can also skip the oil for an almost fat-free version, if you're willing to sacrifice a dab of consistency.

When juicy, ripe Southern tomatoes are in season this summer, one of the best uses of hummus in the world is to spread it on bread with a thick slice of tomato, for a Southern style Mideast sandwich. And with the money you save making your own hummus, you can spend more on the juicy organic fruit on your next Whole Foods trip.

Cut the fat even further by making your own pita chips--here's how.

 Baba Ganoush is an often overlooked Mediterranean dip, but you can master it too with this easy recipe.

 If you're new to Middle Eastern cuisine, the Dallas Ethnic Food Examiner has a handy introduction.

 Do you have a favorite addition to your hummus recipe? Know where to buy the best store-bought? Let Liz Kelly know your thoughts in the comment section, or e-mail your article ideas (or recipes to share) to ekellywrites@gmail.com.

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