Hummus

So good.  So easy.  I think this recipe was originally from Barefoot Contessa.  I've been using it for years, and had many a Middle-Easterner raving about it.  You can find Tahina (or Sesame Paste) in the same aisle as the peanut butter.

 

Hummus

Ingredients:

2 cups (one can) chickpeas

1 ¼ teaspoons salt

4 small cloves garlic, minced

½ cup tahina (sesame seed butter)

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons liquid from the chickpeas (or water)

8 dashes pepper sauce (Tabasco) or 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Olive oil, for garnish

Paprika, for garnish

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender.  Puree until smooth.  Taste for seasoning and add salt, liquid, or lemon juice as needed. 

Pour mixture into a serving dish.  Garnish with a swirl of olive oil and a sprinkling of paprika.  Makes about 2 cups.