Friday, March 25, 2011

Hummus Dip with a Scent of Earthy Cumin


Earthy Cumin Hummus Dip

Makes: 4 Cups
Serving Size: 2 Tbsp

The addition of ground Cumin gives my version of the Mediterranean dip an earthy flavor that I love.  Drizzle with some additional fruity olive oil when serving if your calories will allow it. Sprinkle with added lemon zest and fresh chopped Cilantro for color and a nice zip before serving. 

Garbanzo Beans are also known as Chickpeas. If you look closely at the bean it resembles a baby chick face. Perfect, it is spring after all.

3 1/2 cups cooked, drained Garbanzo beans ( or 2 15 1/2 oz cans of Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
2-4 Tablespoons fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
2 teaspoons Lemon Zest (from one lemon)
2 cloves fresh Garlic (germ removed) see note***
1/2 cup Tahini Sauce
1/4 cup yellow Onion, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2-1 teaspoon gr. Cumin

Drain Garbanzo beans and place in food processor or blender. Add remaining ingredients to processor and blend for 3-5 minutes; stopping to scrape down bowl when necessary. If you are using a blender this will need to be done often to get everything down to the blades.  Blend until smooth. 

Place the dip on a large serving platter, and surround with warm toasted flatbread, pita bread or fresh crisp vegetables cut for dipping.  I always sprinkle on a bit more ground Cumin too, but then I like it earthy! 
This makes a lot of dip, but freezes well. Just divide into 1/2 or 1 cup bowls, cover and freeze.
 
  

***The sprout in the center of a garlic clove is called the germ. When garlic is young, the germ is pale, small, and tender. As the garlic ages, the germ turns green, grows larger, and develops an unpleasantly bitter quality. If your garlic has these large green sprouts and you’ll be using it raw or just quickly cooked, you’re better off removing the germ. It’s easy to do: Just cut the clove in half and use a paring knife or your fingernail to pry the germ out. (If you have a lot of cloves that are doing this, save them to plant out in your garden. These cloves are from my garden last year). Plant each clove separately and it will grow into a full garlic bulb by the beginning of winter.

 
 In the bowl for a whirl!

Scrape down the sides now and then.









Blend until nice a smooth.












Ready to EAT!!

Nutritional Information is based on 2 Tablespoons and does not include the Flatbread.


                    Nutritional Information Provided By NutriMirror.com


5 comments:

  1. Carla, I love hummus! I don't make it often enough at home. I will have to try this out!

    By the way, Thomas and Caitlin will be your helpers any day! They love to cook. :) Those Jello eggs sound like fun!

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  2. What a beautiful blog! You've done a wonderful job with it. Looking forward to following you and checking out more recipes.
    I'm in California, too; a little north of you in Ventura County. We're so blessed with the perfect climate for gardening, aren't we?

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  3. Hi Debbie, thanks for following my blog. I am so happy you are enjoying it. You are so right, sometimes I feel guilty when I hear about so many people that have such terrible weather, but then we sure had our fair share of rain this year.

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  4. Hi Carla! I left you an award on my blog. :) Just lettin' ya know! Miss you!

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  5. Hi Carrie,
    Thank you! I am almost finished with the projects we have going right now and should be back at NM and my blogs after the 12th. Still eating well, so that is good.
    Carla

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