We LOVE us some good hummus around here.  And I mean, we scarf it all down pretty much as soon as it's made.  I started making it a few years ago, after realizing how easy and inexpensive it can be, especially after seeing how fast we can burn through the delicious dip!  I thought I'd share my take on a basic hummus recipe, with a few suggestions for twists if you're feeling adventurous.  I first found a classic recipe online (the site I found it one is no longer up and running) and have since tweaked it - I actually never even measure or use a recipe anymore - just throw some stuff in the food processor and let it do it's thang!



Basic Hummus:
2 cans garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas), with liquid reserved
2 Tbsp Tahini
1-2 garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Put the garbanzo beans, tahini, garlic, salt and lemon juice into a food processor (I found it does the best job!) and turn it on until everything is ground up.  It may appear to be a bit dry, so add some of the reserved garbanzo bean liquid (start with a Tbsp or two.) until it becomes more of a creamy consistency. Stop and taste - I always add a bit more salt or lemon juice, depending on how I want my hummus to taste - then continue processing until the hummus has reached your desired consistency.  I usually let it run a few minutes, because I like my hummus super creamy, but I know some people that like a little bit of texture in theirs.

For some twists on the basic recipe...
Sundried Tomato/Basil: add 10-12 fresh basil leaves + 1-2 Tbsp sundried tomatoes
Garlic Artichoke: add an additional garlic clove + a can of drained artichoke hearts
Spicy: add a seeded jalapeno
Olive: add a handful or two of black or green olives
Roasted Red Pepper: add 2-3 Tbsp roasted red peppers

I have a lot of fun adding different flavors and serving a few different colors of hummus (red = roasted red pepper, green = spicy OR basil, black-ish = black olives)!   I serve hummus with hot pita pockets or pita chips or crackers or carrot sticks or green pepper sticks or as a spread on a sandwich- there are so many options!

Oh!  And the tahini?!  You can usually find it in most grocery stores in the "ethnic" foods section.  It might seem spendy, but that jar usually lasts through many, many batches of hummus!