Hummus Recipes: How to Make Hummus

Someone once came up to me and said she was making Hummus and read that Tahini was one of the main ingredients. She had a packet of sesame seeds and didn’t know what to do with it and asked me to help her! Oh, the poor pioneer!

Asking me that question was almost like saying that she wanted to make some cheese but doesn’t know where to buy the cow! First and foremost, Hummus, also known as Humus, Hommus or Hommos, is the Arabic name for chickpea, and as all of us probably know it by now, Chickpea is indeed the creation of God – and what a beautiful creation! Hummus is simply a chickpea paste that is made up of nothing more than a couple of chickpeas that have been soaked in water, separated from their skins, crushed, cooked and then pureed or ground. The sauce that is practically omnipresent in most of the Middle Eastern countries includes a bit of lemon juice, garlic, and sesame oil or garlic oil. This is the miracle of Hummus.

However, what she was talking about is correctly known as Hummus bi Tahini or Hummus with Tahini. Now there is a bid of bad news coming – most people don’t usually make Tahini from sesame seeds. Most people tend to buy the sesame paste that is readymade and that is how they make Tahini. On the other hand, the good news is that it is very easy to make Hummus with Tahini. But if you prefer to do the whole thing and want to start from scratch, then here is a good recipe for making Hummus with Tahini.

How to Make Hummus: Hummus with Tahini Recipe
Ingredients:

• 16 ounces of garbanzo beans or chickpeas.
• ¼ cup of the water from a can of chickpeas.
• 3 to 5 tablespoons of lemon juice.
• One and a half tablespoons of Tahini.
• 2 cloves of crushed garlic.
• ½ a teaspoon of salt.
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

Preparation:

• Drain the chickpeas and then set aside the water that has been collected from the can.
• Mix all the remaining ingredients in a food processor or blender.
• Add the liquid from the chickpea can and blend the mixture for about 5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and thoroughly mixed.
• Place the mixture in a large serving bowl and then create a sort of well in the center of the Hummus mixture.
• Add about 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil in this well and garnish with a bit of parsley.
• Serve with toasted or warm pita bread or cover the hummus and refrigerate.
• If you want you hummus spicy, then add a single sliced red chili or a bit of cayenne pepper.
• Hummus can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 days and then can be kept in the freezer for a month. If it appears to be dry, then add a little bit of olive oil.

How to Make Hummus: Hummus without Tahini Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1 can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans.
• /14 cup of olive oil.
• 1 teaspoon of cumin.
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

Preparation:

• Blend all these ingredients in a food processor until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
• Serve the mixture immediately with veggies, pita chips or pita bread.
• Store the hummus in an airtight container for 3 days, not more.