Appetizer Recipe: Simple Smooth Hummus

I'll admit it: I'm a bit of a hummus addict. I could eat it every single day and never tire of it. There are just so many different ways to enjoy it-- on crackers, carrots, pita, as a substitute for mayo on a sandwhich. And so many different flavors! Roasted red pepper, garlic, Tuscan white bean, sundried tomato...

Yep, I'm a little bit obsessed. But better than buying the pre-made variety, I like to whip it up myself in the food processor. It takes all of ten minutes, and the result is creamier and healthier than the store-bought stuff. 

This particular recipe is as basic they come. It calls for canned chickpeas, which cuts down your prep time in comparison to using dried. The other key ingredient is tahini, which makes the texture extra-smooth and adds some zesty flavor. 

Simple Smooth Hummus

(make 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients:

• One 15-ounce can (425 grams) chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans
• 1/4 cup (59 ml) fresh lemon juice, about 1 large lemon
• 1/4 cup (59 ml) tahini (we used Krinos)
• Half of a large garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt, depending on taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 to 3 tablespoons water
• Dash of ground paprika for serving

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine tahini and lemon juice. Process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl then turn on and process for 30 seconds. This extra time helps “whip” or “cream” the tahini, making smooth and creamy hummus possible.

2. Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin and the salt to whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds, scrape sides and bottom of bowl then process another 30 seconds. 

3. Open can of chickpeas, drain liquid then rinse well with water. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor then process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl, add remaining chickpeas and process for 1 to 2 minutes or until thick and quite smooth.
4. Most likely the hummus will be too thick or still have tiny bits of chickpea. To fix this, with the food processor turned on, slowly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until the consistency is perfect.

5. To serve: Scrape the hummus into a bowl then drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the top and sprinkle with paprika.