A-Z Letter H is for Hummus

H is for Hummus! Today I'd like to highlight a recipe for homemade Hummus. But here's a little secret, (I don't eat it. Something about the texture puts me off.) Why highlight a recipe for something I don't like? Quite often chefs are called on to modify and/or serve different versions of their recipes they may not particularly like. For instance, one of my best friends, is a vegetarian. She doesn't eat meat, but LOVES hummus. My mom is also addicted to hummus. Once she starts eating it, she can't stop. So even though I don't care for it personally, people I love do. Here's my recipe for homemade hummus:

1 (15 1/2 ounce) can chick peas
1/4 cup of juice reserved from the chick peas
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 chopped clove of garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
fresh ground pepper, to your taste

In a blender combine all the above ingredients and pulse on low.  Once thoroughly mixed, blend on high for another minute.  Taste it to make sure it's smooth now and flavored to your liking. You can eat it right away, or pop it into the fridge for about a half  an hour to give it time to set.

Tip: My mom loves to dip carrots, celery and pita chips into this hummus. It is pretty thick, so pick something to dip in that won't break off and get stuck in the dip.

Hope you enjoy this recipe. Or if you are like me and don't eat hummus, I hope you prepare it for someone you love. :)

PS: Thank you very much to Faraway Eyes for featuring me on her blog yesterday. I was honored!