Hummus Recipe - Quick & Healthy Spread
I discovered pita bread and hummus when I was in Google Hyderabad. We had a salad bar with all these crunchy, fresh vegetables and a bowl of creamy hummus with warm, oven-fresh pita bread right next to it. It wasn't really a popular choice since our lunch buffet had much more appealing dishes but practically every other day, I used to make a pita sandwich with some lettuce, tomato slices, cucumber and a generous spread of hummus.
Those were the days that I could get hummus without going through the trouble of making it myself but now things are different. So last weekend, I set out to the task myself. I started with a Google Search for 'hummus recipe' and was quite surprised to see a site dedicated only to hummus! It was mentioned there that making hummus takes practise even if you are following recipes religiously. I beg to differ. My hummus came out really well and though next time I may blend it until creamy, I still didn't mind the coarse texture of it this time.
One ingredient you will surely need is good-quality Tahini. I got mine from NTUC FairPrice in Singapore. I don't remember the brand name now but tahini is definitely available here in Singapore.
If you want to prepare the hummus without tahini then you can avoid it, which will of course affect the flavour but the end product is still creamy and delicious. Sometimes, kids are allergic to tahini so follow the hummus recipe without tahini.
What I Used:
Chickpeas - 1 cup, washed and soaked in water overnight or atleast 8 hours
Tahini - 1/2 cup
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 1/2 tsp, minced
Cumin / jeera / jeerakam - 1/2 tsp, crushed (I used cumin powder)
Salt - to taste
Olive oil / sesame oil - 1 tbsp
How I Made It:
1. Wash the soaked chickpeas well and drain water completely.
2. Pressure cook until soft (3 whistles) in sufficient water. If you don't have a pressure cooker, transfer the chickpeas to a pot and add water until it is well covered. Cook until the chickpeas are soft and mash easily. This should take about 30-40 mins. Do not add salt while cooking the chickpeas as this will harden them.
3. Drain the water used for chickpeas and keep aside. Blend the chickpeas until smooth, adding little water if too thick.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients (except oil) and continue to blend until you get a smooth, thick paste that is of spreading consistency. If too thick, add very little water at a time from the water used to cook the chickpeas.
5. Make sure you mix the oil in before serving!
I didn't buy pita bread so I served it with some home made white bread (recipe coming soon!)
I am sending this hummus recipe to Ramya's Chutney/Dip Mania and MS's JFI - Chickpeas.
Posts
i love hummus and i think we make it at least once a month for dipping veggies and co. lovely recipe!
ReplyDeletedip looks delicious and serving with homemade bread sounds so good..
ReplyDeletebtw, you get tahini in mustafa too..
hi Nags, I never approached the hummus/ bread/salad bar and so missed the hummus totally!:-( I never was a salad person except for raw cucumber and carrot slices. Will try this and let you know how it turns out, and I think I will try it without Tahini. Thanks for the recipe and the site information!
ReplyDeleteShreya, let me know how it came out, though I must warn you! Without tahini, its quite ordinary tasting :)
ReplyDeleteTahini is new to me.never heard of it.Nice recipe:)
ReplyDeleteLooks so cool! Looking forward for the homemade white bread recipe:)
ReplyDeletelove hummus too...adn can actually make a pig out of myself when i get my hands on it...actually i make a pig outta myself on many things LOL....
ReplyDeleteWow easy to make recipe. Will try this soon.
ReplyDeleteI love this combo, makes a healthy snack to munch on any time. Pics are great! :))
ReplyDeletecombination of Chickpeas, sesame and hint of olive oil taste amazing... and very quick recipe
ReplyDeletechakali
I love Hummus, & regularly make at home. I did not use store bought Tahini the first time I had made it,but did grind up sesame & olive oil at home...Urs looks lovely. try incorporating other flavors, like sun dried tomatoes , peppers.. u will not be disapppointed.
ReplyDeleteI love hummus, when we wer ein holiday in egypt, we had them almost everyday with falafel.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so yummy delicious.
I love the sprinkling on top. Is it chillie powder.
Hi nags,
ReplyDeletehummus is such a classic combination of chickpeas and olive. I even saw a recipe from bobby flay for a hummus quesadilla. Lovely photographs ! Thanks for sending in this delicious entry to JFI Chickpea,
best,
ms
wow perfect...amazing photos...
ReplyDeleteI didn't know tahini is one of the main ingredients in hummus. i have never made hummus at home. but i don't know where to get tahini from.... i like your first pic.very inviting.
ReplyDeleteNice recipe... and I really like your picture...
ReplyDeleteLove hummus, pics looks great.
ReplyDeleteI love hummus too.. the pic looks beautiful. thanx for the lovely entry :)
ReplyDeleteHummus is an all time favorite. I loved the 1st pic, Nags
ReplyDeleteNow where wud i find tahini.....so how am i going to make this awesome dip?Somebody pls come up with an alternative...hello..koi sun raha hai??
ReplyDeleteThat looks delicious! Nice click! I like to eat hummus with pita chips!
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful and easy.Alka,instead of Tahini try using Peanut butter mixed with Sesame/Olive oil.Actually sesame oil is better.Infact you can make Tahini at home,jes miz sesame seeds with sesame oil and blend it together to get the right consistency.Hope this helps:)
ReplyDeleteIm surprised to learn Google, Hyderabad served hummus! I guess the catering person was adventurous! I love hummus, especially in a sandwich with some pesto. Yours looks very yummy!
ReplyDeletehummus is my all time favorite dip. but i rarely use it as a dip - whenever we get hummus (Still have to make it athome) - that and khubbus is my main meal. the first time i had it i didnt like it so much - the taste gradually gre on me. I like to generously squeeze some lemon juice over my hummus.
ReplyDeleteI love hummus, and it is totally South Beach Diet approved. I've noticed that there are some hardcore "hummus police" out there, who are all about the authenticity of different hummus recipes... Screw them, I say, there are so many different ways to make anything. Yours look awesome. And you made that bread? How cool!
ReplyDeleteYay, I eat hummus just like that :D And make it every second day. I use it to dress my salads too! But was this pita bread in Hyd after I left? I love pita and basically, its the Med. fare I love :D
ReplyDeleteThe pics are gorgeous!
Hummus is a favourite and it satisfies my need for a low fat spread! And I've found mine turns out right too.
ReplyDeleteTahini is something I don't get here, so I make a version of my own with sesame seeds!
looks very nice.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'd fully expect Tahini in Singapore... I get it at my local grocery store in Gurgaon :-)
i recently came through a recipe that uses unsalted peanut butter instead of tahini, it was superb.
ReplyDeleteI just tried hummus today for the first time and I LOVE it. And it's so healthy. Two slices of whole wheat with some hummus is the perfect breakfast for me and cuts out so many of the calories I was eating.
ReplyDeleteGoing to try your recipe and give it to my kids.
i recently came through a recipe that uses unsalted peanut butter instead of tahini, it was superb.
ReplyDeletewhat is tahini?
ReplyDeleteI tried the peanut butter version and did not like. Ick. I'll be following those with Tahini only, or going without. Peanut butter just didn't work for me. :(
ReplyDeleteI love hummus!
ReplyDeleteI eat it every weekend!
Hi
ReplyDeletecan we prepare tahini at home, if yes please post the recipe...