HUMMUS 

A MIDDLE EASTERN ‘DIPPING’ TREAT!

INGREDIENTS
1 CAN (400g) CHICKPEAS
60ML (4 TBSP) TAHINI PASTE
1X GARLIC CLOVE
2X TBSP OLIVE OIL
1X TBSP LEMON JUICE
PINCH OF SALT
WATER

ADDITIONAL FLAVOURS: (OPTIONAL)
1X TBSP PESTO 
2X TBSP SUNDRIED TOMATOES OR
1X TSP CUMIN POWDER

GARNISH: OLIVE OIL, 3X GREEN OLIVES, PINCH OF CAYENNE PEPPER.

UTENSILS:
ELECTRIC BLENDER, GARLIC CRUSH, MEASURING SPOONS, MIXING BOWL, MIXING SPOON, SERVING BOWL.

METHOD:
DISCARD MOST OF THE JUICE FROM THE CHICKPEAS AND POUR THE REMAINDER INTO A MIXING BOWL (OR FOOD PROCESSOR/BLENDER).
ADD ALL THE OTHER INGREDIENTS TO THE CHICKPEAS, STIR, THEN BLEND UNTIL SMOOTH. DECIDE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN OPTIONAL FLAVOUR TO YOUR HUMMUS.
ADD ONE SPOON OF WATER AT A TIME AND BLEND, UNTIL THE HUMMUS LOOKS LIKE THE CORRECT THICKNESS (I.E, GOOD FOR DIPPING!)

GARNISH: DRIZZLE SOME OLIVE OIL ON TOP, SOME GREEN OLIVES, AND A PINCH OF CAYENNE PEPPER.
EAT WITH ‘CRUDITÉS’ (RAW VEGETABLE) STICKS, SUCH AS: CARROTS, CAPSICUM, CUCUMBER, CELERY.
STORAGE: CAN BE KEPT IN THE FRIDGE IN A CLOSED CONTAINER FOR UP TO ONE WEEK, OR FROZEN. 

A WORD ABOUT TINNED FOOD:
FOOD FROM A CAN OR TIN ARE OFTEN ASSUMED TO BE LESS HEALTHY THAN ‘FRESH’. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MULTIPLE BENEFITS OF TINNED FOOD LIKE CHICKPEAS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE: INEXPENSIVE, QUICK TO USE, HAVE A LONG SHELF-LIFE AND ARE EXCEPTIONALLY HEALTHY (HIGH IN FIBRE, PROTEIN & HEALTHY FATS). -NOTHING INFERIOR ABOUT THESE LITTLE BALLS OF GOODNESS!