Authentic Middle Eastern Hummus is a Delicious Dip

This is a traditional Middle Eastern Hummus dip; it is a blend of garbanzo beans, garlic, olive oil, and tahini. A great dip for a party or picnic. Who doesn’t enjoy delicious hummus? The other great thing about this dip is that it is dairy-free and gluten-free too.

Delicious chickpeas also known as garbanzo beans are a wonderful superfood full of health benefits are and are a culinary healthy treat! Hummus made from them is delicious.  Have you ever eaten falafel? Did you know that their main ingredient is chickpeas? Add chickpeas to your salads, soups, and stews adding high nutritional value to your meals and a very good protein too. Check out this article to learn more Chickpeas are Full of Amazing Health Benefits.

Beans can be challenging to the digestive system due to their high fiber and starch. Learn 7 Ways To Avoid Gas from Beans.

To get the tastiest and least gas-forming chickpeas, it is best to cook your own. See this research done on the best taste of chickpeas. It is best to prepare them from dried beans.

I am quite fastidious about how to cook beans and lentils as I do not like experiencing the common thing we all associate beans with…GAS! I now feel good after eating beans and lentils because there is not all that gas and smelly farts.

It is easy to cook beans but it requires planning ahead of time. Learn how to cook beans, see my recipe. How To Cook Beans and Lentils To Prevent Gas

Simply Organic Organic Ground Paprika is a warm, organic paprika for mild, spicy flavor and color in soups, grains and hors d’ouvres. It is certified Organic; Kosher. And 1% of sales supports organic farming.

Also, I always use Pink Himalayan Salt which is a salt that is actually healthy for you!

Tahini is an important ingredient in this recipe. I like this one very much Kevala Organic Tahini because it is Organic, Kosher and bottled in glass to keep its freshness so no plastic. Also, it is made in a facility that processes only sesame seeds so if you are sensitive to peanuts you don’t have to be concerned.

To get the most health benefits from Garlic, let it sit for a minimum of 5 minutes, after cutting and before eating or cooking.  Waiting for 5 – 10 minutes allows the health-promoting allicin to form.  If you do not let it sit, allicin is never formed, so it is worth the wait. Add some garlic to your soups, stews, and salad dressing recipes to lower high cholesterol.  Sometimes it is easier to use some Organic Freeze Dried Garlic so no chopping and peeling.

Lemons’ health benefits are immense.  To begin they are acidic to the taste but are alkaline-forming in the body. In fact, they are one of the most alkaline-forming superfoods; this makes them great for balancing a highly acidic condition in the body. Also, they are full of many health benefits.

Olive oil was referred to as “Liquid Gold” by the famous Greek poet Homer.  If you are what you eat, what would happen if you consumed “Liquid Gold” daily?  Extra-virgin olive oil (cold-pressed) is the best fat to use as a salad dressing.  Do not use it for cooking.  It has a low smoke point and heat makes it susceptible to oxidative damage.

Have you heard of the olive oil fraud?  Find out Which Olive Oil to Buy.

Authentic Hummus Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked chickpeas
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons light tahini
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon), plus more to taste
1 small clove of garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Paprika
Himalayan Salt to taste

Directions:

1. First cook your dry chickpeas as in the recipe How To Cook Beans and Lentils To Prevent Gas
2. Drain the chickpeas, save some of the water to use later. Keep a few chickpeas for a garnish.
3. Put all ingredients in a blender or better is a food processor.  You can add some of the saved water if it needs it for blending.
4. Blend until it is very smooth which will be 1 to 3 minutes. You may need to scrape the inside of the blender to blend large chunks.
5. Taste to see if this is the hummus you enjoy. You can add more lemon juice or olive oil to make the hummus creamier.
6. Put into a bowl, drizzle a little olive oil, sprinkle with paprika and cilantro leaves. Or garnish with few chickpeas or olives.
7. Serve with pita chips or raw vegetables. It will keep for up to a week in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Hummus Variations:

• Cook your own chickpeas from scratch.
• Add more cumin for more flavour.
• For a lemony hummus, add more lemon juice.
• Make an olive hummus, mix in 1/2 cup of chopped green or black olives.
• Create a nutty hummus by blending in some walnuts or pine nuts.

If time and patience allow, pinch the skins from each of the chickpeas; this will make your hummus smoother. I never do it as it does not make it taste any different and for me, it is all about taste.

One More Chickpea Recipe

 Creamy Chickpea and Rice Pie – This chickpea pie is a very tasty meal which does take a little extra time to prepare but it is worth it. The great news is that it is dairy-free meaning it is vegan and gluten-free too!

More Tasty Dip and Pesto Recipes

 Avocado Vegetable Dip – What I like about this raw avocado vegetable dip is that it is full of vegetables; adding the celery makes it crunchy and not so rich as well as healthier.

 Creamy Butter Bean Dip – This butter bean dip is very tasty, healthy and vegan. The creamy texture makes it good for a dip. Also, very easy to make.

 Fancy Pineapple Salsa – This pineapple salsa recipe is full of health the benefits of pineapple adding excitement to your party food, snacks or even a meal with this very tasty recipe.

 Yogurt Dip – This yogurt dip is nutritious with no additives that you get in store bought dips. Also, it is simple and easy to make.

  Guacamole Recipe – It is easy to make this and so delicious too!

 Vegan Hemp Heart Pesto is Nut Free and Delicious – This hemp heart pesto is vegan, nut-free and raw. It makes lunch or dinner extra delicious. Most pestos have cheese in them which doesn’t work for those of us who eat dairy-free. I always make my pestos without the cheese. For some, it is best not to eat lots of nuts and this hemp heart pesto is perfect as the hemp hearts add the flavour and texture without the nuts.

 Delicious Vegan Pesto – I love this vegan pesto without the cheese; it tastes like the real thing only better to me! Toss with pasta or serve with bread or crackers for an appetizer.

 Fresh Peppermint Pesto Is So Tasty on Pasta – I love this vegan peppermint pesto during the hot summer. Try it on raw zucchini pasta or even added to your cooked grains or on top of steamed vegetables.