Friend's Tasty Hummus Recipe

How to make it

---

• -boil the chick peas using the liquid from the cans for 5 - 10 minutes
• -drain the liquid, saving some
• -blend the chick peas in the food processor adding small amounts of the liquid to aid in blending process
• -add the juice of the lemons, tahini, garlic and olive and blend thoroughly until smooth
• -place the mixture in a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature or place in the refrigerator
• optional:
• -pour a light amount of olive or chili oil on the top of the hummus and add paprika or your favorite spice. dollop of yogurt and sprinkle on olives of your choice.
• all of the above ingredients really depend on taste preference, you will have to experiment. i usually prefer a lot of tahini and lemon juice for the acidity. also, if the chick peas have added salt, i do not add the dash of salt because there is usually enough already absorbed. add a variety of spices like dill, or some roasted red peppers or toasted pine nuts during the blending process to create a variety of different flavors. serve with pita bread or tortilla chips, great inside of a wrap or sandwich as well!
• another great topping is crispy fried parsley, if you can get it to that consistency although i have found that it is particularly difficult to do without a deep fryer.
• Weird Fact: According to Mark Bittman, anything blended into a paste is considered a pesto, so technically you could call it that if you were feeling saucy.
• -There is a legend that hummus was first prepared by Saladin, the first sultan of Egypt and Syria.
• -Za'atar is a dried herb mixture (sumac, oregano, thyme, marjoram) mixed with roasted sesame seeds and coarse sea salt. it can be made at home or purchased at middle eastern groceries or places with a good spice section. Like most spices and herbs, it is best consumed with 3 - 6 months.
• -Few spices and herbs are of optimal flavor quality after a year. Black pepper is one that can last for many years.
• -need protein in your diet? serve with a bready product. pita, etc, the ingredients within it will combine well with the hummus to form a complete protein chain.