TGIF! This has really been a week! Let’s see, on Wednesday I got an email for a sale at World Market. 25% off! I just about jumped when I got it. I am obsessed with that store. So obvi, I dropped everything and went. Loaded up a cart full of stuff and headed to check out. The lady at the counter looked at me and said it didn’t start until Friday. And I was all like, “but I’m a member! I get to shop a day early!!” And she’s all like, it’s Wednesday! So yeah. In reality, I showed up 2 days early for the sale. I was that excited! Anyyyway! Let’s talk hummus. I wuv (♥) hummus. But I’m super picky about it. It has to be perfect in texture. I despise super thick hummus. You know the kind I’m talking about. Like globs of chunky peanut butter in my mouth! Don’t get me wrong, I love chunky peanut butter, it’s just not what I want from my hummus! So today I’m sharing my favorite ultra-smooth and creamy hummus recipe + homemade pita chips. Every time I make this hummus for a party, people ask me for the recipe! That seems to me like it’s a good sign. If you’ve never made creamy hummus at home, I’m going to strongly advise you to do so! There is nothing like the taste of homemade creamy hummus! You’ll be glad you did. I accept gratuity in the form of coffee at all times. Just kidding. Let’s make those pita chips:
Grab some store bought pitas. I used 100% whole wheat pitas. That’s why they look so dark. I didn’t crisp them to a char, promise! If you’ve got some lying around the house that are getting stale, that’s perfect. If you’ve got time, let the pitas sit out on a cutting board for at least an hour. This helps ensure they are super crisp when baked. Cut the pitas (or pita pockets) into 8 pieces. I had jumbo whole wheat pitas I had to cut mine into 24 pieces! Make wedges, diamonds, whatever you like. Mix the 1/4 cup of olive oil with the italian seasoning, garlic powder, and sea salt. Brush the oil mixture on both sides of the pita wedges. Bake the pitas for about 7 – 9 minutes. Keep an eye on them. Depending on the brand they may require more/less time. Isn’t that easy? The whole process of making the chips + hummus should be about 20 minutes! And now for the best part, the hummus. This is my absolute favorite classic hummus recipe. I don’t plan on changing this up one bit.
A few keynotes about this hummus recipe:
- What is tahini? Tahini is sesame paste. It’s a very common ingredient used in hummus. Nowadays tahini is available in most supermarkets. Look for it in the ethnic food aisle.
- Adjust the garlic to your liking. I used a tablespoon of the stuff that comes minced in a jar. It’s a little less potent then the fresh stuff. If you’re using raw garlic, go easy. Start with 1 clove and work your way up.
- Do I have to peel the chickpeas (garbanzo beans)? Not. at. all. The super creamy texture can be achieve even with the outer-casing of the chickpea left on. It’s all in the process! This is the creamiest restaurant style hummus, you and your guests are going to love it! This is the blender I use. It’s a Cuisinart and it’s pink. It gets the job done and it costs about $35. No need to rush out and buy any special equipment for smooth hummus. Its HOW you make it that matters. We’re going to be starting and stopping the food processor a few times. The ingredients have to be added in batches to ensure that creaminess is achieved. Be sure to save about 1/4 cup of that chickpea liquid that comes in the can. Alternately, you can use water. Start by processing the tahini, lemon juice, and minced garlic. You want to make sure the garlic is evenly dispersed throughout. One teeny, tiny chunk of the raw stuff could have you tasting it in your mouth till next week! Once completely blended, add 1/2 the chickpeas (garbanzo beans), 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the reserved chickpea liquid, the salt, and cumin. Continue to blend. Stop a few times in between and scrape the sides as necessary. Add the second 1/2 of the chickpeas, olive oil, and chick pea liquid. Continue to blend until completely smooth. Spoon the hummus into a bowl, decorate with a teaspoon or two of olive oil and a small pinch of smoked paprika. That. is. it. No biggie, right?Now grab a pita chip and scoop up a healthy bit of that hummus on there. Sharing is totally optional. I won’t judge if you don’t! You could even spread this on pita wraps with your favorite deli cuts and veggies for a quick and healthy, gourmet lunch! How do you enjoy your hummus? Do tell!
*If you’re using fresh garlic, I suggest starting with 1 clove and working your way up from there. I used the minced stuff that comes in a jar, it’s less potent and it makes the hummus taste just like the stuff in restaurants!*A 14oz can drained of its liquid contains 8 oz (240 g) of chickpeas
