Hummus is a middle eastern dip prepared with cooked mashed chickpeas and seasoned with tahini, garlic and lemon juice. It is a versatile dip served with pita bread and vegetables, and also is a great spread for sandwiches.
Update – Images re-edited and updated in Dec 2017.
We are into third week of Buffet on Table blogging marathon. Our theme for this week is condiments from around world. Condiment is defined differently around the world and we just referred to wiki and I followed their list of condiments to make sure my condiment fits their description.
According to Wiki, “A condiment is a spice, sauce, or other food preparation that is added to food to impart a particular flavor, to enhance its flavor, or in some cultures, to complement the dish. The term originally described pickled or preserved foods, but has shifted meaning over time.
Many condiments are available packaged in single-serving packets, like mustard or ketchup, particularly when supplied with take-out or fast-food meals. They are usually applied by the diner, but are sometimes added prior to serving; for example, in a sandwich made with ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise. Some condiments are used during cooking to add flavor or texture to the food;barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and marmite are examples.”
First condiment of the week is hummus. It is popular in middle eastern and North African countries. Hummus is prepared with cooked chickpeas, garlic, salt, tahini and lime/lemon juice. All these ingredients are ground to fine or coarse paste and drizzled liberally with olive oil. Preparation of hummus is similar in most of the countries with minor variations. I prepared Israeli style hummus and served with pita chips.
Israeli Hummus
Source: Bon Appetit
A popular chickpeas condiment from Israel and the Middle East.
- ½ cup Dry Chickpeas
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 2-3 Cloves of Garlic
- 3 tbsp Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice (more for to taste)
- ½ – ¾ tsp Salt (adjust to taste
- ⅓ cup Tahini
- ⅛ – ¼ tsp Cumin Powder (I used ⅛ tsp)
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil & more for drizzling (I forgot to note down how much I used)
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Wash chickpeas, soak in water to cover the chickpeas by 2” and add ½ tsp of baking soda. Soak overnight or 8-10 hours.
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Drain and wash chickpeas.
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Take chickpeas, ½ tsp baking soda and water in a saucepan or in a pressure cooker. Cook until chickpeas are very tender. In a pressure cook for 6 – 7 whistles let pressure release naturally. In a saucepan it takes 50-60 minutes.
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Meantime, in a food processor take garlic, lemon juice, salt and process until coarsely pureed. Let sit for 10 minutes.
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Strain garlic through a mess pressing on the garlic to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids and return the juice to processor bowl. I skipped extracting the juice and used the garlic as it is.
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Add tahini to garlic lime juice mixture and process to combine the mixture. Add 2 tbsp. of cold water to get a smooth, thick paste.
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To the mixture add chickpeas, cumin powder and puree until smooth. Add more water if required.
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Taste and adjust salt & lime juice to taste. Also add more cumin powder depending on one’s preference.
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Transfer to a serving bowl, make a shallow well in the center and drizzle oil.
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Top with chopped parsley, cumin powder or paprika. I sprinkled some paprika.
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Serve with pita bread, pita chips or use it as a spread for sandwiches and wraps.
- I used cumin powder. If using cumin, add it along with garlic and puree.
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This day in 2014: Bandung, Rose Syrup from Malaysia
Event Entries: This goes to My Legume Love Affair #87 hosted by Swathi, an event start by Susan and currently organized by Lisa.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 56
Vaishali Sabnani says
Ah our favourite ! Hummus ia as it is very tempting and you have such tempting clicks ! Looks really fantastic .
cookingwithsapana says
Hummus is my favorite .Your clicks are awesome,so tempting.
Pradnya says
beautifully clicked Usha..your new set of props are amazing…
Nisha Sundar says
Fantastic clicks Usha. Its so refreshing and fresh…
sizzlingtastebuds says
That’s cute bowl u have presented the hummus in, Usha 😉 the dip looks so creamy !
Leena says
Hi first time here, you have a nice collection of recipes,tempting hummus love the colourful cups…Please do visit my blog.
harini says
Our fav dip with pita chips. Beautiful presentation.
Sneha datar says
Hummus is delicious and has a lovely color .
Sandhiya says
Wonderful clicks Usha…Well made & beautifully presented .Yet to try hummus on my own.
Priya says
Cant take my eyes from ur clicks, beautifully presented..my mouth is watering here..
Srivalli says
Beautiful picture Usha, love your cups and clicks too..very very classic shot!
Simply Tadka says
Love this beautiful click.. and nice texture.
srividhya says
Loved your presentation.. beautiful click with pita chips
Priya Srinivasan says
I cannot stop myself from repeating, your clicks are so awesome, the way you ahve placed the bowls, superb, you have a artistic mind usha, have you tried other arts, painting, sketching???? you might good in that as well, the colors you play with in ur clicks, awesome!!! Ok, now this getting to be paragraph, than a comment, i will stop myself!!! 🙂
Hummus is our favorite, we love it toasts too!!
MySpicyKitchen says
Thank you and you are being very nice Priya! I don’t have an artistic mind and struggle a lot when clicking the pictures. At the end, manage to click decent or at least ok pictures. Few of my cousins & aunts do have an artistic eye. I might have gotten a teeny bit of that gene from my maternal side.. 🙂
Pavani says
Love hummus, so creamy and delicious. Your clicks are amazing.
Suma Gandlur says
You have kickstarted with a popular dip. Love the props in the clicks.
themadscientistskitchen says
You dont have an artistic bent of mind? Then I am miles away from it… No Usha you are very artistic. As for the hummus I wish mine looks like yours.
Mireille Roc (@ChefMireille) says
love the cute bowls you put the hummus in and you plated it beautifully with the olive oil
Priya Kumar says
Hummus looks great. I have not yet made any…. lovely click