Making Hummus
I love hummus; I like to eat it with celery, carrot chips, and bell pepper slices. It’s my go to snack.
Hummus is incredibly healthy. Made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and garlic, it is a nutrient-dense powerhouse packed with plant-based protein, dietary fiber, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. It supports gut health, aids in blood sugar management, and helps reduce inflammation
Hummus is a healthy food item I have bought for years. The price was always no more than $2.50 for a container of it when we lived in Massachusetts, and it never felt like a purchase of convenience. Down here in North Carolina, hummus is anywhere from $6.00 to $8.00, which is too pricey for me. Considering all the recalls on the stuff over the last few years, it's enough to make a person stop buying it.
After we moved to North Carolina nearly five years ago, I immediately noticed that our regular grocery shopping bill had nearly doubled. So, I started looking into ways to make more items myself and save money in the process. I got back into bread and pasta making; we make our own pizzas from scratch; I grow herbs; and I make all kinds of soups from scratch. Heck, I can even make crackers!
Making hummus from scratch is ridiculously easy, and the recipe is simple. I do not claim this recipe as one I've created, so that's why I'm giving you a link to it.
https://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/
The process only takes a handful of minutes to make. Today's hummus is caramelized onion hummus. I had cooked up the onions a couple of days ago. I like to put caramelized onions in salads, as a topping on focaccia and pizza. I did adjust the recipe a bit; I like to use 1 teaspoon of cumin and 1/4 cup of caramelized onions. I do not add water; instead, I use the liquid from my unsalted chickpeas.
Side note: that chickpea liquid is called aquafaba, and you can use it as a plant-based egg substitute in many recipes.
The expensive part is the tahini - check out your local Asian or Indian food stores, Super G or Super H Marts for better prices on tahini versus a regular grocery store. These are international food stores with much better prices than most chain grocery stores.
Let me know if you make it and how you liked it.