About the Recipe
This hummus is absolutely divine and the process is essentially the same regardless of which flavor you want. Simply substitute the red bell peppers with dill pickles, beets or anything else that strikes your fancy.
If you want plain hummus, simply omit the bell peppers and voila!
Ingredients
3 cups of well-cooked chick peas
½ cup of tahini
200-250 grams of fresh roasted red bell peppers (or off-the-shelf jarred peppers)
¼ teaspoon of finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons of olive oil
5 tablespoons of fresh-squeezed lemon juice (¼ cup + 1 tablespoon)
2 ½ teaspoons of white vinegar
¾ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
1-2 tablespoons of cold water (optional)
If you want a bolder flavor, you can add double or triple the indicated amount of red peppers and reduce the amount of water.
Preparation
Preparing Chick Peas
You can use canned chick peas for this recipe. However, you will have a smoother hummus if you cook your own from dried chick peas as you can cook them until they are softer than they are from the can.
To make your own, rinse 1 cup of chick peas in cold water then add them to a large saucepot with 4 liters of water. It may be necessary to add more water after an hour or two.
Bring the water to a boil over medium high heat then reduce the heat to medium low and slow boil for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until the peas are very tender.
Drain the peas and allow them to cool to room temperature before making the hummus.
One cup of dried chick peas, once cooked, will make enough for this recipe.
A third option is to used canned chick peas and boil them until they are tender, which should take about 30 minutes.
Making the Hummus
There is very little to do with this recipe. Simply put all the listed ingredients, except the water, in a food processor with the cutting blade attached and then process on high speed until the hummus is smooth. This should take between 4 and 5 minutes if you cooked your own chick peas but could take a few minutes longer if you used chick peas straight from a can.
Taste the hummus to determine if it is seasoned to your liking.
Add salt and/or lemon juice to your taste. If the hummus is too thick, add a bit of water.
Chill before serving.
The hummus will thicken in the refrigerator so it is best to make it a bit runny to begin with. Once chilled, if the hummus is thicker than you like it, add a bit more water and salt then mix well.