Hummus: Yum Yum

[AzStevenCal]

Hummus saved my life! Other than the starchy ones, I have never been fond of vegetables. I've wanted to like them but my taste buds just wouldn't cooperate. For me, there is nothing more distateful than the odor and taste of a cooked cruciferous vegetable. I discovered that I could force down raw broccoli and raw cauliflower if I drenched it in salsa but it was still a lot of work and my diet really couldn't afford all that sodium. And then, we discovered Hummus.

We vary the vegetables but my daily lunch consists of something like this: A half cup each of broccoli, cauliflower, button mushrooms, Sugar snap peas and half a carrot. I dip those into about 2 or 3 tablespoons of a spicy Hummus (make it yourself or buy something like Sabra Roasted Red Pepper and load it up with some Cayenne Pepper). It makes for a very tasty and healthful lunch even if you're using the store bought variety. Most brands are made with Tahini and Olive Oil which are considered to be good sources of omega-3 fats.

I like Hummus so much that it emboldened me to give cooked veggies another chance. I still don't do well with boiled or steamed vegetables but in season, I'm not sure there is a tastier treat than a plate of roasted asparagus dipped in Hummus.

I'm sure most of you already love your vegetables and are long time Hummus consumers but for those of you still wrapped up in your typical Taco, Burger, Pizza, Sandwich diet - you really need to experiment with this tasty dip (spread, topping whatever you want to consider it).

If anybody has some good Hummus recipes or recommendations for use, I'd love to hear them.

Steve

 

[Linderbee]

Love, love, love hummus. Here is a recipe I found, but have not made yet. I will be in the next few days--I will report back on it. It did get great reviews, though:

Sweet Pea Hummus
• 2 cups garbanzo beans, cooked
• 1 1/2 cup green peas, lightly steamed (frozen is fine, but do steam before using)
• 3 tablespoons sesame tahini
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (like dill, parsley, or basil)--this is optional!

1. If you’re cooking beans from scratch: submerge 1 cup dry garbanzos in about 3-4 cups water and let soak overnight. The next day, rinse beans and submerge in a few inches cold water. Bring water to a boil, and simmer beans for 45-75 minutes, or until beans are tender. Salt the water at this point if you wish to, and let beans sit and absorb salt. When ready to use, drain beans, which will be ready to use.

2. Place beans, peas, tahini, lemon juice, sea salt, and garlic into a food processor or high speed blender. Pulse to combine a few times, and blend at a regular speed. With the motor running, drizzle in 1 tbsp olive oil and keep blending until ingredients are creamy and smooth. You can add a little extra olive oil or water if the mixture is too thick.

3. Taste the hummus and adjust seasonings to taste. Pulse in lemon zest and herbs, if using. Serve, enjoy, and look forward to more seasonal hummus recipes to come!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Love, love, love hummus. Here is a recipe I found, but have not made yet. I will be in the next few days--I will report back on it. It did get great reviews, though:

Sweet Pea Hummus
• 2 cups garbanzo beans, cooked
• 1 1/2 cup green peas, lightly steamed (frozen is fine, but do steam before using)
• 3 tablespoons sesame tahini
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (like dill, parsley, or basil)--this is optional!

1. If you’re cooking beans from scratch: submerge 1 cup dry garbanzos in about 3-4 cups water and let soak overnight. The next day, rinse beans and submerge in a few inches cold water. Bring water to a boil, and simmer beans for 45-75 minutes, or until beans are tender. Salt the water at this point if you wish to, and let beans sit and absorb salt. When ready to use, drain beans, which will be ready to use.

2. Place beans, peas, tahini, lemon juice, sea salt, and garlic into a food processor or high speed blender. Pulse to combine a few times, and blend at a regular speed. With the motor running, drizzle in 1 tbsp olive oil and keep blending until ingredients are creamy and smooth. You can add a little extra olive oil or water if the mixture is too thick.

3. Taste the hummus and adjust seasonings to taste. Pulse in lemon zest and herbs, if using. Serve, enjoy, and look forward to more seasonal hummus recipes to come!

We've not had much success with cooking the beans from scratch but we'll give your suggestion a try the next time. Let us know how this one turns out.

Steve

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Hummus is excellent. When I go to Costco, I'll get a container of Pita Pal hummus and some of the ginormous garden vegetable/spinach-flavored tortillas. Just those together make great wraps, but you can also stuff them with veggies or something.

I also like hummus as a topping on veggie burgers and, obviously, as a dip for chips or veggies.

 

[Shane]

I like hummus. But what is with the deal with the pine nuts that companies and restaraunts want to sprinkle over it! YACK!

 

[AzStevenCal]

I like hummus. But what is with the deal with the pine nuts that companies and restaraunts want to sprinkle over it! YACK!

I've never had it in a restaurant but it's common to top the Hummus with pine nuts or roasted red pepper or garlic etc. I don't care for the store bought pine nut version so I'd probably agree with you. Seriously, if you want to take Hummus from pleasant to delicious, crank up the heat. I love spicy foods but I have never had something improve so much from the addition of cayenne. The hotter the better. We're making a batch this weekend and I'm trying to talk my wife into adding a couple of habaneros to it.

Steve

 

[desertdawg]

I wasn't going to post on this thread, my motto has always been "Let the hippies be." But I dated a girl who ate hummus once...once. And while her appetite and the disastrous fumes coming from her beautiful body were not the main reasons of/for our demise..it was definitely a factor. I'm talking butt stank here people, you've been warned. Plus, hummus is sooo 2005, it's in the fake turkey and sausage class now. So many have traveled down this hummus road, only to come back to a lifestyle of oragnic meats, fish, veggies, and fruits.To each their own but I do pity the dutch oven receivers in yalls households.

 

[DeAnna]

I love hummus! and I do like it with pine nuts. I also use it as a spread on sandwiches (instead of mayo).

 

[desertdawg]

I love hummus! and I do like it with pine nuts. I also use it as a spread on sandwiches (instead of mayo).

How long have you loved hummus though? I swear it's like fondue, in one minute, out the next, unless you quit shaving your legs.

 

[Mulli]

The pine nuts they put on top of the hummus in the stores are gross.


But normally, pine nuts > hummus.

Hummus is pretty boring for my tastes really.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I wasn't going to post on this thread, my motto has always been "Let the hippies be." But I dated a girl who ate hummus once...once. And while her appetite and the disastrous fumes coming from her beautiful body were not the main reasons of/for our demise..it was definitely a factor. I'm talking butt stank here people, you've been warned. Plus, hummus is sooo 2005, it's in the fake turkey and sausage class now. So many have traveled down this hummus road, only to come back to a lifestyle of oragnic meats, fish, veggies, and fruits.To each their own but I do pity the dutch oven receivers in yalls households.

You might want to learn a little more about Hummus. It's a food made from garbanzo beans, tahini and olive oil. It's not a fad, it's a food. I don't know about you but I don't check the current trends before turning my taste buds loose. It's nutritious and it's tasty. Also, unless your "girlfriend" was dipping week old road-kill in it, I have no idea what you're talking about with her odor problem.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

The pine nuts they put on top of the hummus in the stores are gross.


But normally, pine nuts > hummus.

Hummus is pretty boring for my tastes really.

I tried Hummus in the 80's and found it pretty bland myself. I had it again in the mid 90's and it once again did little for me. But, about 4 years ago, I had some with some homemade Hummus with roasted red pepper and liked it enough to add it to my menu plan. I didn't love it but it worked so well with raw veggies and I was so in need of adding them to my diet. It wasn't until I added cayenne to it that I really fell in love with it though. Seriously. Buy some with roasted red pepper, add a lot of cayenne, roast some asparagus to go with it and then tell me it's boring.

Hummus works well on chips, tastes great in wraps (like krepitch suggested) but for me, I love the way it works with vegetables. I can think of a lot of things that I like with all those other things that I already like but it was the first (and still, only) accompaniment to veggies that makes them palatable to me. You have to be seriously tasty if you can convince a life-long veggie hater to eat raw broccoli and make happy noises while you're doing it.

Steve

 

[Mulli]

I tried Hummus in the 80's and found it pretty bland myself. I had it again in the mid 90's and it once again did little for me. But, about 4 years ago, I had some with some homemade Hummus with roasted red pepper and liked it enough to add it to my menu plan. I didn't love it but it worked so well with raw veggies and I was so in need of adding them to my diet. It wasn't until I added cayenne to it that I really fell in love with it though. Seriously. Buy some with roasted red pepper, add a lot of cayenne, roast some asparagus to go with it and then tell me it's boring.

Hummus works well on chips, tastes great in wraps (like krepitch suggested) but for me, I love the way it works with vegetables. I can think of a lot of things that I like with all those other things that I already like but it was the first (and still, only) accompaniment to veggies that makes them palatable to me. You have to be seriously tasty if you can convince a life-long veggie hater to eat raw broccoli and make happy noises while you're doing it.

Steve

Ya it is fine..

 

[desertdawg]

You might want to learn a little more about Hummus. It's a food made from garbanzo beans, tahini and olive oil. It's not a fad, it's a food. I don't know about you but I don't check the current trends before turning my taste buds loose. It's nutritious and it's tasty. Also, unless your "girlfriend" was dipping week old road-kill in it, I have no idea what you're talking about with her odor problem.

Steve

I'll stay with the steak my friend.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'll stay with the steak my friend.

Yes, because cows are evil and should be eradicated from this earth. Hopefully, we can torture them a little along the way.

Seriously though, I'm not a vegetarian. I love the taste of a good steak amongst other things. However, every time I see the way cows and chicken are treated from birth to the grocery store I find myself wishing I were Vegan.

Steve

 

[desertdawg]

Yes, because cows are evil and should be eradicated from this earth. Hopefully, we can torture them a little along the way.

Seriously though, I'm not a vegetarian. I love the taste of a good steak amongst other things. However, every time I see the way cows and chicken are treated from birth to the grocery store I find myself wishing I were Vegan.

Steve

I am up on my animal rights and knowledge. Even been to culinary school. What about the vegetable's rights? Are you comfortable with how they are harvested (mass murder)? I have respect for what I consume, and I try and keep track of where it came from. I aint gonna post all the crap I won't eat, and I shouldn't diss what you are mackin on right now, my bad. Truth is, the less people that crave the crap foods, the more the animals you talk about benefit. It gets crazy from this point on in the conversation. I've kicked it farm style, and that is my favorite food, straight fresh food. I'm trying to support local farmers, it's good for the local, and they make the land better.

 

[Folster]

I too am a hummus fan. I've made a black bean hummus a couple times. You can get the recipe online and really spice it up.

 

[Linderbee]

We've not had much success with cooking the beans from scratch but we'll give your suggestion a try the next time. Let us know how this one turns out.

Steve

I liked the hummus flavor, but I believe it would have been better with canned beans as well. I probably will not cook them from scratch again.

I remember LVG & Schutd discussing cooking beans, and that you have no idea how old the beans you buy are when you get them from the grocery store. I gotta agree.

Again, flavor--pretty good; texture--not so good.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I too am a hummus fan. I've made a black bean hummus a couple times. You can get the recipe online and really spice it up.

I've come across a few recipes for black bean hummus but I'm curious how it compares to traditional. Is it just a good choice when looking for variety or do you actually prefer the taste of the black beans over the garbanzos?

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I liked the hummus flavor, but I believe it would have been better with canned beans as well. I probably will not cook them from scratch again.

I remember LVG & Schutd discussing cooking beans, and that you have no idea how old the beans you buy are when you get them from the grocery store. I gotta agree.

Again, flavor--pretty good; texture--not so good.

Yeah, I remember the conversation. I'd had no idea they could be different ages but it made sense once he mentioned it and it explains why our pinto beans that we make often always contains a few inedible beans after cooking.

I keep seeing people extolling the virtues of doing this from scratch but I think I still have room for improvement just making it with the canned beans. Maybe when I graduate to Hummus expert, I'll try it with dry beans again.

Steve

 

[Folster]

I've come across a few recipes for black bean hummus but I'm curious how it compares to traditional. Is it just a good choice when looking for variety or do you actually prefer the taste of the black beans over the garbanzos?

Steve

I'd say it's a nice alternative. I prefer garbanzo, but the black bean gives you a different flavor and allows for a more southwest flavor.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

I wasn't going to post on this thread, my motto has always been "Let the hippies be." But I dated a girl who ate hummus once...once. And while her appetite and the disastrous fumes coming from her beautiful body were not the main reasons of/for our demise..it was definitely a factor. I'm talking butt stank here people, you've been warned. Plus, hummus is sooo 2005, it's in the fake turkey and sausage class now. So many have traveled down this hummus road, only to come back to a lifestyle of oragnic meats, fish, veggies, and fruits.To each their own but I do pity the dutch oven receivers in yalls households.

As a card-carrying hummus hater I wasn't keeping up with this thread but, Dawg, this is some of your best stuff ever. I'm writing down "disastrous fumes" for future use.

 

[jw7]

As a card-carrying hummus hater I wasn't keeping up with this thread but, Dawg, this is some of your best stuff ever. I'm writing down "disastrous fumes" for future use.

Where do I apply for this card, Dems?

Hummus is a vile, foul-smelling, looks-like-baby-vomit invention.

Back when I was a frequent-flyer, in first-class, they served hummus on every dang flight leg. Just give me my pretzels and go away!

 

[AzStevenCal]

Where do I apply for this card, Dems?

Hummus is a vile, foul-smelling, looks-like-baby-vomit invention.

Back when I was a frequent-flyer, in first-class, they served hummus on every dang flight leg. Just give me my pretzels and go away!

I don't know, maybe there's a huge difference in one type of Hummus vs another. I have no idea what you guys are talking about as the stuff I eat has virtually no odor. It's not much to look at but then again, neither is peanut butter and I use to love that stuff too.

Steve

 

[schutd]

For bean purees, old beans can work. Just hammer the hell out of them. A well cooked bean, to be eaten whole should be a little toothsome. But if youre pureeing, cook em until they have no give when you bite one. Stir beans regularaly while cooking. They'll cook more evenly. WHen checking for doneness, try one, then stir and try another. Repeat. You'll get a better idea of overall doneness of entire batch that way. I had the grocery sore problem with some dried lima beans I made the other day. A casserole with spinach sausage, onion garlic, tomato. Amazing.

Anyhow. The moral is; cook beans for a puree WAY past what youd do if you were going to eat them whole. And having a high speed blender or processor is crucial. Puree them with a bit of the cooking liquid. Add oils at the end. The oils will emulsify with the water a bit a make things creamier. Not too much oil, or it will break and look greasy.

Cooking beans is fun!