It is a dish with origins in the Levant — a region that includes Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Turkey — due to the abundance of chickpea agriculture. It is practically guaranteed if you are invited to a Levantine dinner that this will be present on the table.  Interesting fact about Hummus is that some health experts consider it to be an aphrodisiac because it is packed with iron, magnesium, zinc, and potassium.  It has become hugely popular— particularly within the vegetarian/vegan communities because it is so healthy and considered an energy booster.

Time:

30 min

Serves:

4

Good for:

• Light appetizer
• Vegan dish
• Dipping with veggies or chips.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of store-bought chickpeas
• 1/2 to 1 clove of crushed garlic
• 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp of salt
• 4 tbsp of Tahini (sesame paste/sauce)

Kitchen things you’ll need:

• Blender
• Small bowl
• Citrus juicer
• Spatula

Making it:

• Take the chickpeas and dump it into a blender.
• Add the crushed garlic, salt, and tahini.
• Squeeze an entire lemon and add it to the mix
• Mix them all together until you end up with a past like consistence and serve at room temperature and best eaten with pita bread on the side.

Tips/notes:

• Add water if you want a more fluid consistency
• To add a nice crunch try garnishing with toasted pine nuts and olive oil
• For a meatier option you can add some cooked ground beef as well
• For a slightly tangier option sprinkle with cayenne pepper