Hummus

Hummus is a delicious chickpea cream typical of Middle Eastern cuisine. Here’s how to prepare classic hummus, with an Italian twist you might enjoy.

Ingredients

• 400g of precooked chickpeas (or canned)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons of tahini (sesame seed paste)
• 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 pinch of ground cumin (optional)
• Fresh parsley to garnish (Italian style)
• Sweet paprika to garnish

Preparation

1. If you’re using dry chickpeas, remember to soak them the night before and then cook them until they are soft. If you’re using canned chickpeas, drain and rinse them to remove any preservatives or excess sodium.
2. Place the chickpeas in a food processor or blender, add the garlic cloves, lemon juice, tahini, half the olive oil, a pinch of salt, and cumin if you desire.
3. Blend everything until you get a smooth and homogeneous cream. If you find the hummus is too thick, you can add a little water or an extra drizzle of oil to reach the desired consistency.
4. Taste and adjust the salt, lemon, or tahini according to your personal preference.
5. Transfer the hummus to a bowl, create a well in the center with the back of a spoon, and pour the remaining olive oil into it.
6. As a final Italian touch, garnish with chopped parsley and a sprinkling of sweet paprika for a touch of color and flavor.

Trivia

Hummus is an ancient dish whose origins are lost in the mists of time. Some findings indicate that a similar preparation to the current hummus was consumed in ancient Egypt. Despite this, many nations contest its paternity, and today it is an international dish that has won over millions of palates around the world. The Italian version with the addition of parsley adds a touch of freshness to the original Middle Eastern recipe.