This traditional Middle Eastern hummus recipe is one of my faves! Its incredibly easy and ridiculously cheap to make, especially in comparison to even the freshest shop bought stuff, which is far inferior to home made. There are only a few ingredients involved and it can be altered slightly to make a lower calorie, lower fat version so that you can still enjoy it whilst youre dieting. Obviously lashings of olive oil tastes miles better, but the option is there. One of the many health benefits of hummus is that it can be used to help treat the symptoms associated with menopause.Remember Samantha from Sex In The City? Exactly. So when the time is nearing, theres no better recipe than this! Hummus it traditionally a side dish, starter or a dip used with celery, carrots, bread sticks etc, but more recently, as its popularity has grown, Ive seen hummus pizzas, hummus salad, hummus wraps, hummus everything! Basically, it can be the basis of a meal due to its high level of vitamins and protein, not just an accompaniment. Add nuts and seeds like I have to give it more depth and texture. My favourite way to enjoy hummus is on thick sliced toast with an extra drizzle of olive oil and sprinkling of cayenne pepper for a little fiery kick. Enjoy!
Ingredients;
400g tin of chickpeas.
2 cloves garlic
Juice of a lemon
3 tbsps tahini paste
Pinch of salt and pepper
2 tbsps cold water
3 tbsps olive oil.
For the topping;
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp sunflower seeds
3 tbsps olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika.
Method;
Drain the chickpeas and add to a large mixing bowl, add all other ingredients (except toppings) and blitz in a food processor or use a hand blender, until smooth. Add a little more cold water if necessary, to loosen mixture to your desired consistency. Add to a serving dish and sprinkle with seeds, paprika and drizzle with olive oil. Delicious!