Tuesday, April 12, 2011

How-to Tuesday: Homemade Hummus



Last week, when I posted my second How-to contribution, I was excited, a weekly blog feature, LOVE IT.  And then the week wore on and I started to panic.  What was I going to post for week three?  The trouble is, I have exactly 6 things I know how to do, most of which do not lend themselves to blog posts.  I am not crafty (despite last week's post) and I don't have many hobbies, at least not of the sort that produce anything blogworthy.  And right now my schedule is packed to the gills with hours of reading and writing and classes...not to mention my adorable kiddos.

So, I thought and thought and thought and thought and then I decided to make some hummus because we were out and my kids love it and eat enough that making it at home is so much more cost-effective than buying it.  And then I remembered there was a time in my life when I didn't know how to make hummus.  

Eureka, a post for Tuesday!

So, without further ado, here is my How-to Tuesday Recipe for Homemade Hummus. (Note: This is not my recipe, but I've been making it so long I don't even remember the source.)

1) Gather your ingredients.  You'll need (Note: this is the recipe for a double batch, we eat our hummus by the spoonful around here so a single batch is never enough):

 2 cans garbanzo beans/chickpeas
1/2 cup reserved liquid from the garbanzo beans
5 or so tablespoons lime juice (I never measure this, I just squeeze until it seems like enough -- I like my hummus tangy and usually use 3 to 5 limes, depending upon their juiciness)
2-3 cloves crushed garlic (again, just guesstimate, if you like it garlicky, throw in more)
3 tablespoons tahini*
salt and pepper (again, through trial and error you'll find the amount that is perfect for you, but start with 1/2 teaspoon or so of both)
4ish tablespoons olive oil



2) Put everything but the olive oil in the blender (for extra smooth hummus) or food processor (for slightly less smooth hummus) -- important, don't forget the salt and pepper, adding them afterward does not work and will ruin your hummus -- and blend until smooth.  (Note: I usually put the garbanzo bean liquid and the lime juice in first because it makes the blending process go, well, more smoothly, but you can do it however you prefer.)



3) When all your ingredients are blended, check the consistency.  Now, turn on the blender again and add your olive oil a tablespoonful or so at a time.  I just eye-ball this and keep adding until I like what I've got.


4) That's it.  Pour your homemade hummus in a lovely dish, garnish with paprika and olive oil and serve with crudites or pita chips/bread.  Your guests/family will be so impressed when you reveal you made it yourself.  It tastes like you bought it at a Middle Eastern restaurant, truly!  Or, do what we do, skip the garnish and fight over it until every last bit is devoured.
 

* Let's talk tahini.  Tahini is just sesame seeds ground to a paste, more or less the consistency of stiff peanut butter.  You can make hummus without Tahini, but I don't, unless I'm living in a country (like Venezuela) where it is nearly impossible to come by.  Tahini adds a lovely nuttiness to the hummus and the end result just isn't the same without it.  Tahini can sometimes be a little hard to find, but most grocery stores (except Trader Joe's, go figure!) carry it, you just have to find the person in the store who knows what and where it is.  It is a bit pricey too, but a little goes a long way, so splurge, it's worth it.

22 comments:

Cares and Mimi said...

Oh yum! We are such hummus lovers here yet I have never ever made it. I can't wait to try your recipe.

Kimberly said...

I use lemon juice. I'm going to try the lime juice and salt and pepper. Yum!

Cassidy said...

Looks delish! Love hummus, and love that your kids love hummus.

Karey said...

This looks so good and I like finding new chip/dip combos. Thanks.

OnCallMom said...

I can't wait to try this!

Rocky Creek Valley Farm said...

This looks delicious. Now I know what's for lunch.... thanks!

Julie said...

I have had a hard time finding a hummus recipe I like because they all call for lemon juice, and they end up tasting too lemony. Lime juice sounds great. Now I am on the search for tahini--no Trader Joes around here. So very sad.

Christie said...

I have never made hummus, but I love it like nobody's business. I am so going to be making this.

Woman? You got skillz. Keep showing them. You are awesome.

Suzanne said...

Yum! This IS easy! Who knew? Thanks for this.

the girl in the red shoes said...

Thanks for posting this! I've been looking for a fast and easy hummus recipe!

kara jayne said...

How did you know that just today I was going to google "how to make hummus"!!! I'm so excited. Thank you so much!

calibosmom said...

I eat hummus almost every single day and do I make it? No. Not sure why. You have inspired me to try it out. Looks delicious!!!

Genevieve said...

We LOVE hummus in our house and almost always have homemade hummus on hand. I've never made it with lime juice instead of lemon, I might have to try that. America's Test Kitchen rates Joyva tahini (which I can't find here in Hawaii) as the best so good choice!!

jessica said...

Crazy...I had no idea that people actually made homemade humus. I am so intrigued. If I were more culinary minded I would actually try this, but I'm not so I am sending my sister to your blog in hopes that she will make this for me.

Lauren in GA said...

This post included the valuable information that your boys love it and will eat it. I am grateful you posted this. I want some more ideas of how to inspire my kids to want to eat healthy things.

erica said...

Yum! I have never even thought about making my own hummus before! Definitely will be giving this a try!Loving your blog... I am your newest follower.

xo

Bryn said...

I buy the hummus here because I'm the only one who likes it and they sell it in small batches. I love the red bellpepper hummus. I dip carrots in it and it is SO GOOD!! I'm going to try your recipe one day, just so I can say I did it. It sounds so yummy!!!

Jen said...

Yum, we are huge hummus fans here...will have to try ASAP!

Lindsey said...

Love it! I have made it before, but without tahini. I am now personally committed to making it with TAHINI! :)

Rachel Cotterill said...

I love homemade hummus - though I haven't tried it with lime, I usually use lemon :)

PS you're in DC... any free evenings in the first week of May? I'm visiting UMaryland and likely to have some spare time, so I wondered if any of my DC bloggy friends fancied meeting up one night :)

robin marie said...

perfect! i've been wanting to make hummus for a long time! this is the kick in the pants that i needed. have you made other flavors ever?

Anonymous said...

This "how-to" actually seems possible for a culinarily-challenged one like me. I'm definitely going to try it since I love hummus! We're always looking for things that our little girl will tolerate, so fingers crossed :)

 

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