Fun times with hummus

[myredcactus]

What do you do with hummus? I know its awesome with salads and as a snack with pita or crackers... or in a greek-style sandwich or wrap with feta and veg... but what else do you do with it. There's a recipe on the lid of my hummus (I can't make it myself - huge disaster), and there's a recipe for pasta - basically roasted veg and pasta tossed with hummus/water mix...

Any other suggestions?

[Lrimerman]

We just eat it with chips and then some of the other ideas you mentioned. I started making my own with a recipe from the cookbook Falling Cloudberries and it turned out so good. I made homemade pita and the hummus for 200 for a girl scout International Night event and everyone loved it.

Lisa

[jabelt]

Probably the most unique way I've used hummus is as a topping for mushroom quesadillas. I served it as part of our appetizer spread at our annual Valentine's Day party. I really loved it! Let me know if you would like the recipe. I think I got it from the most recent annual BHG appetizer publications.

[Rae]

I've made a cold pizza using hummus. Roll out a crust thinly and bake until crisp. Cool and spread with hummus. Then top with shredded chicken, lettuce, olives, feta or mozz., a squeeze of lemon juice, etc. Not too far from pita sandwiches but sometimes a nice change of pace.

[drewberry4]

I love hummus so much, sometimes I just eat it with a spoon :(

[runningkitcat]

It's great as a vegetable dip too...

Wendy

[Terri_A]

To quote one of the characters from "Friends"... "God bless the chickpea!"

[Ella]

Yeah, I love hummus! I've never made it from scratch (can never find tahini), but I've used the powdered mix from whole foods and it's great. For easter, we made a big batch, then flaovered portions with roasted red pepper, oregano pesto, and tomato-eggplant, and served them with veggies.
If the flavoring sounds random, this is because we sort of "recycled" leftovers from other dishes; the oregano pesto was a rub for the lamb, the tomato-eggplant was from a veggie dip, and the roasted red peppers were leftover from the red pepper soup. But they all turned out so well.

[Canice]

Ella, you should be able to find tahini in just about any grocery store in Palo Alto, either with the peanut butter or in the "ethnic foods" aisle.

Can I piggy-back here and ask how long you think it's OK to keep hummus? I made a batch last Sunday and it looks/smells OK so I'm thinking it's fine...but 10 days is sort of a long time. ??

[bobmark226]

Canice, I keep hummus around just as long and maybe longer. It's never a problem, but it does lose its freshness and the texture gets sort of dry, which tells me its time to dump it.

Ella, you might try this one. It doesn't require tahini and it's very good. I can link you the whole thread where others remarked how they like it. The sesame seeds replace the tahini, which is, after all, nothing but sesame taken to a paste.

http://community.cookinglight.com/showpost.php?p=906086&postcount=11

Bob

[surfer376]

Ella this is for you-

Homemade Tahini
(Sesame Seed Paste)


While Tahini is readily available in health food stores, Middle Eastern groceries, and even most supermarkets today, it is also very easy to make your own.
4 cups sesame seeds
1/4 to 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Spread the sesame seeds on a shallow baking tray and bake, shaking frequently, until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Do not brown. Cool.
Put the sesame seeds in a blender or food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the vegetable oil. Process to a smooth paste, about 5 minutes. Add more oil if necessary, to bring the paste to a thick pouring consistency. Tahini will keep stored in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator for several months.
Makes 3 cups.
From "Pita the Great" by Virginia T. Habeeb

I have made it and it's really easy and keeps for a few months in the fridge, I also freeze the hummus, I use it in place of mayo on sandwhiches.
Chari

[faygs]

Yeah, I love hummus! I've never made it from scratch (can never find tahini), but I've used the powdered mix from whole foods and it's great. For easter, we made a big batch, then flaovered portions with roasted red pepper, oregano pesto, and tomato-eggplant, and served them with veggies.
If the flavoring sounds random, this is because we sort of "recycled" leftovers from other dishes; the oregano pesto was a rub for the lamb, the tomato-eggplant was from a veggie dip, and the roasted red peppers were leftover from the red pepper soup. But they all turned out so well.

You can also usually find tahini in any kosher/jewish store, and there are plenty of those in LA.

(p.s. my daughter's name is Ella! :) )

[Canice]

Thanks, Bob. If it's just texture now, maybe I'll toss in a little "evoo" and a squeeze of lemon juice, and enjoy. I hate to waste it, and it's the BEST for when you're really hungry and need a quick, healthful boost!

Ella, I just noticed you said you buy your hummus mix at Whole Foods. You should know better than I, but I would be awfully surprised at a Whole Foods that didn't sell tahini! Have you asked for it?

[Ella]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

Bob, that recipe looks really interesting - I can't wait to try it. I've never heard of putting honey in hummus before.

Canice, I did ask an employee about tahini, with no results. Perhaps I asked the wrong one, because it seemed like something whole foods would definitely have. I'll have to look harder.

[lorilei]

I had very good luck with a chickpea fritter recipe (http://community.cookinglight.com/showpost.php?p=1034498&postcount=106) last weekend -- and it occurred to me that the same technique could be used with hummus.

Just add an egg or two to the hummus (to help with binding) and fry it up into patties on a well-oiled skillet.

These make great sandwiches with a bit of yogurt sauce or dressing (and I don't even mind them plain, eaten out of hand).

[myredcactus]

I love hummus so much, sometimes I just eat it with a spoon :(


Oh my God.. I just laughed out loud so hard that i had a coughing fit!

[dreamer]

My favorite way to eat hummus is on a toasted pumpernickel bagel, with a slice or two of tomato. Hmmm...
Just don't make the mistake we did the first time DH & I had this. We liked them so much, and they seemed light and healthy, so we each ate a couple. Well they are more filling than you might think. :eek: Boy were we full!
I seem to recall a several hour recovery period. :)
-dreamer

[Lrimerman]

The Whole Foods near me is where I buy Tahini and it is with all the nut butter. (peanut butter, etc). Next time ask where that aisle is and you will probably find it. I get the 365 organic brand and it is good.


Lisa