Hummus is one of those foods that most people either love or hate. Those that hate it often do so because the only hummus they have had is so bland and flavorless! I now offer you a hummus that has plenty of flavor, and a wonderful texture.

And it’s so easy.

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1.5 Tbsp tahini
• 4 cloves of garlic
• salt & pepper to taste

Optional ingredients:

• roasted red peppers
• sun dried tomatoes
• marinated sweet peppers
• more garlic 

Pour the chickpeas into a strainer and wash them until there are no more bubbles. None. Get all of that packing liquid OFF.

Pour the chickpeas into a food processor. Add the garlic, tahini, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Begin to process in short bursts.  If needed, add a drizzle of olive oil to smooth things out.

I often add some marinated sweet peppers at this point – you can find them in most grocer’s olive bars or in a jar in the pickle section. I put in about 8.

Once it starts to smooth out, taste it to see if you need any salt or pepper to brighten the flavor.

Process it until it’s smooth. You can serve it immediately, or seal it and put it in the refrigerator to chill.

We eat it on sandwiches, with pita and veggies, with chips or crackers… I even recently heard of using it in potato salad (although I haven’t tried it yet)

It’s so easy to make, I don’t buy the bland stuff at the store anymore. It only takes 5 minutes to have a tasty, healthy snack.

I very often serve it alongside a fresh olive tapenade – so tasty, and so easy!