Recipe: Hummus

Hummus

From Chef Jed

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dried chickpeas
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 7 ½ cups water
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons tahini paste
• 4 tablespoons  lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 7 ½ tablespoons cold water
• Salt to taste

Directions

1. Soak chickpeas overnight in 1½ quarts water.
2. The next day, drain the chickpeas and discard the soaking liquid. Cook chickpeas on high heat with baking soda and 7½ cups of water.  As chickpeas cook, skim any skins and foam, add water as needed.  Cook until chickpeas are very tender but not mushy. This may take 30 -40 minutes.
3. Drain the chickpeas and cool until warm. Grind the chickpeas in a food processor until a stiff paste has formed.  Add garlic, tahini, lemon juice and salt to taste.  Process for another minute and add cold water.  Process until a smooth paste.
4.  Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until needed.  Garnish with whole chickpeas and olive oil if desired.