Humus and Variations
Humus is a great addition to any array of party food. It is naturally vegan and none of these variations will change that. It is a great source of protein. Put it on some rice crackers and you will make your vegetarians happy.
Humus is traditionally made with Chickpeas, and the flavor is simple. It is primary the nuttiness of the tahini, the tart of the lime juice and the strong garlic. It holds up well to crackers, pita, or as a great dip on a veggie tray. It is also endlessly versatile and here are some ideas.
Any bean or pea can be used to make humus. You can also add other ingredients. Here are some suggestions to add to the basic recipe.
Mexican: use 2 cups of black beans and add 1tsp smoked paprika, 1tsp ground cumin, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.
Olive: use 1 can of kidney beans, 15 - 20 black and/or green pitted olives, and 1 tsp Italian herbs
Roasted Red Pepper: use 1 can of white beans or chick peas, a small jar of roasted red peppers and 1 tsp paprika
Edamame: Use 2 cups of frozen shelled edamame, 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley and 1/2 tsp ground corriander
Basic Humus recipe:
Yield: 2 - 3 cups
Equipment: food processor
Ingredients:
2 cups you bean or pea of choice
¼ cups tahini
2 tbs fresh lime juice
4-5 clvs garlic, peeled
salt to taste
2-4 tbs olive oil (add more if you like your hummus creamier)
Instructions:
Put beans, tahini, lime juice, garlic and salt (plus other optional ingredients) into the bowl of a food processor. Process until evenly chopped, then, while the processor is chopping, slowly add the olive oil until the mixture is creamy.