How to make healthy hummus at home

No mezze platter is complete without hummus. A hearty, tangy dip, that keeps everyone coming back for more, hummus is perfect for entertaining. But this classic Middle Eastern favourite is great for jazzing up other dishes such as BBQ meat, vegetables, and salads. Requiring only a few ingredients, you can whip up this classic chickpea dip in less than 5 minutes.

INGREDIENTS

250g cooked chickpeas (or 400g can chickpeas)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 lemon, juiced
3 tbsp tahini
1 tbsp olive oil, plus a splash of extra virgin on top to serve
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp ground cumin, optional

METHOD

Step 1 If using canned chickpeas, drain and reserve the liquid. Put all the ingredients, except salt, pepper, ground cumin and saved liquid, in a food processor and whiz for about 30 seconds or until smooth.

Step 2 Add a little of the cooking liquid, or water from the tin, to achieve the perfect consistency. The mixture should be creamy, not wet.

Step 3 Season to taste and add ground cumin if you like. For extra flavour you can experiment with different flavours such as dried chilli, jalepeno peppers, extra garlic or ground coriander.

Step 4 To serve, drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves or continental parsley or paprika. There are many choices, use the garnishes you like best. Serve with pita crisps.

What other ways can I use hummus

There are many ways you can use a hummus recipe for other dishes. Hummus is great as a dressing for barbecued meat. Just thin the mixture a little, season to taste and pour over. Another delicious idea is as a garnish for roast lamb on a rice pilaf with toasted pine nuts, raisins and chopped flat leaf parsley stirred through.

Can hummus be frozen

Hummus can be frozen for up to 4 months. It takes a few hours to defrost until it’s ready to eat, and it will need to be stirred before serving. For ease of use, freeze hummus in smaller containers – the larger the batch, the longer it will take to thaw out.

Is hummus vegan

Given that hummus is made with vegetable based ingredients, it’s vegan-friendly. However, if you’re buying hummus from the supermarket, it’s a good idea to check for unexpected non-vegan ingredients like milk powder or honey.