Hummus

Hummus is by far my favorite dip. It is a Middle Eastern dip made from garbanzo beans, often served with pita bread. It is a great snack to munch on while you are studying, or to serve at get-togethers. Homemade hummus is incredibly quick and easy to make. A key ingredient is something called Tahini, which is roasted sesame butter. I could not find any tahini at Safeway or Dissmore's, but did find some at the Moscow Food Co-Op. Here is the recipe, which I found at http://www.about.com/. You can also play with the recipe by adding things like roasted red pepper or cayenne pepper for a spicier hummus.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans


• 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas


• 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)


• 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini


• 2 cloves garlic, crushed


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup liquid from chickpeas. Blend 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread, or cover and refrigerate.

Hummus can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be kept in the freezer for up to one month. Add a little olive oil if it appears to be too dry.