Creamy Hummus with Homemade Tahini Paste

Name: Creamy Hummus with Homemade Tahini Paste
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 105 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup dried garbanzo beans/chickpeas (,rinsed then soaked overnight); 1/2 cup Homemade Tahini Paste; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2-3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1-2 cloves garlic (, roughly chopped); 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin ((optional)); 1/2 teaspoon salt (, plus more to taste); Reserved cooking water from the garbanzo beans; Extra olive oil for garnish; Paprika for garnish; Chopped parsley or cilantro for garnish

Written on 23 May, 2014

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A widely popular dip, hummus is not only delicious, it’s super healthy. This hummus is made using homemade tahini paste, which is easy to make, cheaper than store-bought, and tastes so much better!

Hummus is the Arabic word for “chickpeas”, the central ingredient in this Middle Eastern dip. Its complete name is hummus bi tahina, meaning “chickpeas with tahini.” Made with chickpeas, tahini (a paste made out of sesame seeds), garlic, lemon and olive oil, hummus is very nutritious. It’s high in iron, vitamin C, folate and vitamin B6. It’s also an excellent source of amino acids, fiber and protein. In fact, when eaten with bread, hummus is a complete protein. And of course the generous amount of olive oil in the hummus comes with its own wide range of health benefits.

And how often is it that something so healthy also tastes so doggone delicious?

Most commonly served as an appetizer or dip, scooped up with flatbread such as pita, hummus is also a common accompaniment to grilled chicken, fish, falafel, and eggplant.

Interestingly, “according to a 2010 market research, hummus consumption in the United States has increased by 35 percent over a period of 21 months, with sales reaching nearly $300 million” (Wikipedia). See, the masses are catching on to this delicious treat. But rather than buy it, make it yourself. It’s cheaper, fresher/healthier, and tastes so much better!

And I know what you’re thinking. “Yeah, but it calls for tahini paste and I never have that on hand when I need it.” Fear not! Here’s a super quick, super easy recipe for it!

Homemade Tahini Paste

Now, if you’re a hummus fan, imagine how amazing this tastes having made everything, including your very own tahini, from scratch!

And if you’re not already a hummus fan, prepare to be converted!

Let’s get started!

Soak the garbanzo beans in water overnight. Drain and thoroughly rinse. Bring them to a boil in a pot of water (you can add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water if you’re prone to…ahem…gas). Reduce the temperature to medium, cover and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until very soft.

Drain the garbanzo beans.

Place the cooked garbanzo beans in a food processor.

I’m using my full-size Cuisinart in the photos but usually I prefer my smaller Cuisinart 3-cup Food Processor which we’ve had for 10 years and it’s still going strong.

Process the garbanzo beans and add some of the reserved bean water.

Add the olive oil, tahini paste, garlic, lemon juice, cumin (if using) and salt. Process until smooth.

Add some more of the reserved cooking water from the beans until you reach the desired consistency. Add more tahini paste and salt to taste.

Transfer to a serving bowl, make some swirly divets on the top and pour a little olive oil over it. Sprinkle with some paprika and garnish with some chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve with toasted pita wedges, vegetables or crackers.

Enjoy!

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4.91 from 10 votes