The Garbanzo

Lunch is one of my least favorite meals of the day. Breakfast is my number 1 least favorite. I'm not sure what I eat! But I do enjoy making my own hummus for a lunchtime fix of protein. I've had a lot of practice at this and I've concluded there really is only 1 secret ingredient - the food processor. If I could only keep 1 kitchen gadget I think it would have to be my food processor. You can pulse food until your heart is content. I make hummus all of the time. I get requests for my hummus so I thought I'd share my 'secrets' to the world. (fyi: there is no secret, it is the easiest thing you'll ever make and you'll never want to buy store bought again)

*note: If you don't have a food processor, get one. A blender just isn't going to cut it.

Hummus à la Food Speak
1 can garbanzo beans (washed off and remove some of the hull or leave them on it really doesn't matter)
2 cloves garlic (add more if no one will be around to smell your breath)
1 heaping tbsp tahini (if you can't find it in the store don't worry, just omit it)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp red pepper flake (I add this to everything but it is completely optional)
1/4 C olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

1 First blend those garlic cloves. Then add the garbanzos. You have to do it in this order so the cloves really get all minced up.
2 Add the spices, lemon juice, and tahini. Pulse.
3 Drizzle in the oil if you have a spout, otherwise just eyeball it. You want to get the texture right -- not too runny not too dry. It should look something like this:

4 Add anything you want. Sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, cilantro, the possibilities are truly endless.
5 Add salt and pepper to taste.
6 Garnish it with a drizzle of oil and/or some paprika if you want to be traditional.


I like mine smeared on a whole wheat bagel or some pita lightly toasted in the oven, even carrots. Not into garbanzo? Then try canellini or even edamame. Go make some hummus and take to the streets. Everyone will love it.