Southwestern Hummus

Do you like hummus? Yes? No? Sometimes? Are you partial to the traditional plain hummus? Or do you like it spiced up a bit?

I love it both ways. Providing it's homemade. But I think I like it a little bit more with a little spice added.

I don't know what made me even try this recipe. Or where I found the recipe originally. Actually, over the years, I have tweaked and altered so is this where I get to call it my own?

Wouldn't you just love to serve this on Super Bowl Sunday and see the faces of the guys when they bite into it, thinking it's guacamole? hahaha!!! I have a brother in-law who doesn't like guacamole (gasp!!!) so it's a good thing my sister told him it was hummus otherwise he'd have missed out on this yummy, healthy treat.

Oh, and ya....he likes it too.

Basically it's the same original hummus recipe...with a few flavorful additions:

2 or 3 garlic cloves
2 - 15 oz cans of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) or...you can use fresh, cooked beans
1/4 - 1/3 cup of tahini
1/3 cup lemon or lime juice (fresh is best)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons sliced nacho style jalapeno chilies (from the jar) or more if you like it hot. remove seeds and veins to reduce heat
Olive Oil and Paprika to garnish

Drain the chickpeas and reserving the liquid

In a food processor, chop the garlic and jalapeno, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the chickpeas and cilantro

oooooh eeeeeeeeem geeeeeee....I just love this stuff!! I swear, I'd be happy just sitting there with my face shoved in a bunch of cilantro, inhaling!!

(clears throat)...ok, focus. Add the tahini

add the lemon juice

Grind for a second and then add some of the chickpea juice

Grind some more. If you need more juice, add some more, a little at a time until you get a nice smooth creamy texture going. You don't want it too watery though. And you won't need all of the juice....so just watch it.

Oh man....if you could smell this! Fresh, spicy with a hint of garlic. Right up my alley!!

Scoop it into a bowl and drizzle some Olive Oil over the top with a sprinkle of Paprika.

Now....what do you think we should we use to scoop up this yummy mouthful of goodness with?

Homemade whole wheat pita?

Talk about some good stuff here. Simple, easy.....unreal! I was amazed at how wonderful these babies turned out. Wanna make 'em? The recipe is in the book "Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day". I'd love to share the recipe with you but have been sworn to secrecy. Sorry :(  I bet you could use just about any bread recipe. Just grab a ball of dough....(after 1st rise), roll it out to about 1/8" thick....bake in a preheated 500' oven for about 5 - 7 minutes and cool, covered with a cotton towel on a cooling rack. Yep...that easy. It puffs up and has the cool little pockets and everything. Maybe I'll dedicate a whole other post to these babies another day.

Anyways....as good (and traditional) as that combo is....I think this hummus is best with tortilla chips.

But this lazy cook didn't go to the grocery store and didn't have any tortilla chips in the cupboard.

What I did have was a bag of corn tortillas

Woooo hooooo!!! Just slice 'em up, pie fashion and fry 'em in a pan of oil until golden brown...only takes a few moments (or if you really must be healthy, bake them. but I have no idea how high or how long....you're on your own there)

Drain on a few paper towels (or if you're in the middle of an online wine club party over at BakeSpace, you'd be using power towels...but thats a story for another time that requires lamp shades and drew scribers.)

And low and behold....you have a gorgeous plate of yummies to present to your Super Bowl guests. Or...just keep it in the kitchen to munch on while you prepare a bowl of potato chips and onion dip for the guys. As if they'd notice anyway, right? (Unless of course you served it while wearing your bathing suit.).