Hummus & Variations

Have you tried hummus before? It is one of the most popular side dishes across the middle east. And there is a reason to that! It is one of the easiest and satisfying side dishes ever.

Ingredients

• ½ cup tahini

• 1.5cup boiled chickpeas

• 2 clove garlic, minced 

• 2-3 tbs extra virgin olive oil 

• ½ cup water less or more according to the consistency you like

• Juice of 1 lemon 

• ½ tsp cumin

• 2 tbs of pine nuts

• Salt and black pepper to taste

Optional:

• 2 tbsp dried mint finely chopped, and ½ tsp red pepper flakes, 2 tbs os olive oil 

Method

• Just blend them all together in a food processor or with a hand blender and check consistency and spice. Add more water or spice accordingly.

• Place pine nuts on a small non-stick pan and toast for about 5 minutes until they are nicely coloured. Add on top of your hummus

• In a small pan, put olive oil and mint and red pepper flakes, cook on medium heat for 2 minutes or so, just to get the aroma boost. Drizzle it over your hummus

Variations: You can add the following for colorful and different hummus dishes

• 3-4 Grilled red peppers (you can make yourself or find them in jars in the supermarkets)

• 4-5 Dried tomatoes

• Pumpkins:  Bake a slice of pumpkin in the oven, with only a drizzle of olive oil and salt for about 50 minutes at 180 degrees celsius. Mash with a fork (it should be around 1 cup). Mix pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup of yogurt to hummus! Delicious!

• Beetroots: Add 1 boiled or oven baked mashed one to your hummus