Authentic Middle-Eastern Hummus

Hummus is an extremely versatile food. It can be sweet or savory, full of vegetables or legumes, and can be spiced in a number of different ways. As fun as it can be to experiment with flavors in hummus, sometimes it's best to take it back to the original. This hummus is creamy, lemony, and has the perfect balance of tahini. This can be a base recipe if you prefer to spice your hummus in a certain way, but there is no doubt that this hummus recipe is extraordinary. This recipe is inspired by Cookie and Kate.

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RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

- 1 15oz can of chickpeas, drained

- 3-4 cups of water

- 1/2 tsp baking soda

- 1 bay leaf

- 1/2 of a medium onion, chopped

- 1/2 cup tahini

- a couple tablespoons of ice water

- 3-4 tbsp lemon juice

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1/2 tsp salt (more to taste)

- 1/2 tsp cumin (more to taste)

- optional: a sprinkle of paprika and olives on top

METHOD

In a large pot, add the water, chickpeas, baking soda, bay leaf, and chopped onion. Bring to a boil, and let simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until mushy. In the meantime, add the lemon juice, garlic, and salt into a blender, and blend until smooth. Let sit for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes are up, add the tahini and blend. Add a couple tablespoons of ice water, and continue to blend until the mixture is creamy. Add the chickpeas and cumin into the blender, and blend until creamy. This may require more ice water if the mixture is having difficulty blending. Add any salt, cumin, lemon juice, or tahini to taste, and then you're done! Serve in a bowl with some pita on the side and enjoy.