Hummus

Continuing in my lazy blogger mode, below is a post from a different blog I wrote a couple of years ago. Therefore, the prices shown are old and certainly less than they would be today. I believe you'd save even more money making your own hummus today.

I bought prepared hummus for years but never really liked it.  It was one of those foods that seemed fake to me and although there are plenty of prepared foods I ate, I always questioned how fresh they were, how nutritious, and although it's difficult to avoid, I try my best to limit the amount of plastics I buy or use or eat food from.

Turns out (and I know because I timed it), that it takes a mere five minutes to make your own hummus, less than ten minutes (nine to be exact) to make it and wash all the prep dishes. I estimate it cost less than $1.50 to make two cups worth using canned beans. Our local market sells a large container (but I forgot to see just how large, I'm guessing a cup) for $3.68, so for ten minutes of work, I save $2.18 and have fresh hummus, made to my own specifications.  When I soak and cook the beans myself, there's a bigger monetary savings, and a bigger environmental saving - one less metal can produced, one less metal can in the recycling pool.

Traditionalists stuff hummus into pita pockets, but I love it on a dense whole wheat bread, with slices of tomato, red onion, and lettuce or sprouts.  For a long time I gave it to my son Harry for lunch plain on bread as he was the kind of vegetarian that liked to avoid vegetables (so perhaps he was more of a carbosugovore as he tried to subsist on carbohydrates and simple sugars).

The Recipe (I didn't forget about it, I was just musing)

15 oz. can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

3 T tahini

1/3 cup water

2 T lemon juice

1 T cumin

1 clove garlic

ground pepper (I did 20 turns on my pepper mill)

Place all ingredients in a blender.  Blend.  Use a spoon to scrape the sides and blend again. Stop when the hummus is as smooth as you like it. 

For the creative: try different spices - cilantro is great, you can't go wrong with parsley, or another clove of garlic for those who aren't speaking to coworkers right after lunch.  You may be able to trick your family's carbosugovore by sneaking in some grated carrots, celery, or bell pepper - these would also add a nice crunch.  Speaking of crunch, if you use a food processor instead of a blender, you'll get a crunchier hummus - use the blender if you like your hummus to have the store-bought consistency.