More learning, growing... experimenting

[audere47]

Not just my small children, but me as well. Bread baking has been a success (the bread is extremely nutritious, great taste and texture, and a lot cheaper than buying $4 loaves at the store), so I am moving on to the next grand culinary experiment... homemade hummus. It's my family's spread of choice, and it's expensive (about $0.50 per ounce,

Comments

[superlib]

Tahini is a main ingredient in Hummus. Any hummus that doesn't have it, isn't real hummus.

So says the woman married to an arab.

Lemon juice and garlic are also key components.

I'll get Jameel to give you his recipe :)

[jakari]

The way my mother and father (and his mother, and her mother before) made it:

One normal size can chickpeas. Heat in their liquid until its simmering (warmed through). You can use a microwave for this.

Drain the chickpeas, reserve the liquid.

Approximate measures:
1 Tbsp minced or pressed garlic
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tsp cumin, powdered
1 Tbsp olive oil

Puree the chickpeas in a food processor - add a little of the reserved liquid at at time if it gets sticky and pasty. Add everything else and puree some more.

That's about it. Adjust the flavoring - it may or may not need salt depending on your chickpeas.

Traditionall served spread platter and garnish with parsley, a sprinking of paprika, and olive oil drizzled on top. You can add cut vegetables (cucumber and tomatoes) around the edge.

Best at room temperature or a little warmer.

Pita bread should be served warm.

[audere47]

Wow, thanks! And, my guesses were approximately right, except I missed the cumin! And I tried the blender the first time around. After that experience I think the food processor will be easier (I still have half my experimental pound of chickpeas that I hope to play with tomorrow).

Of course, since I used bulk chickpeas I had to soak them, then cook them - but I can always reserve some of *that* liquid.

I hope to try some tomorrow - doubt it'll happen tonight. (OK, except for the sampling I did while making it to adjust the flavorings. Shhh.)

[harpergreen]

Figuring out the proportions shouldn't be hard. Look up recipes online, like allrecipes.com, or that one you told me about, and go from there.

[harpergreen]

Of course, that looks tasty enough ;) You are *so becoming crunchier and crunchier every day!

Only slightly crispy

[audere47]

... jealous? ;-p

Dude, I'm telling you, it's a "when in Rome" thing. If something works for my family, I'll try it out. If not, then not. I'm not going to become a vegan, stop shaving, and buy land to plant a soy crop. I'm telling you, making homemade bread and homemade hummus from bulk grains is going to save us tons of money! (And be healthier and taste good.)