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.
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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. 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 below but without tahini.
Ingredients:
Chickpeas – 1 cup, washed and soaked in water overnight or at least 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
Instructions:
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.
I 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.
Going 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.
looks very nice.
BTW, I’d fully expect Tahini in Singapore… I get it at my local grocery store in Gurgaon 🙂
Hummus is a favourite and it satisfies my need for a low fat spread! And I’ve found mine turns out right too.
Tahini is something I don’t get here, so I make a version of my own with sesame seeds!
Yay, I eat hummus just like that 😀 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 😀
The pics are gorgeous!
I 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!
hummus 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.
Im 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!
Looks 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:)
That looks delicious! Nice click! I like to eat hummus with pita chips!