Ted and I just returned from a great trip to Newport, Rhode Island.  An easy side dish to tonight’s dinner was a must.  The following recipe was perfect.

We are in for a treat this week with A Taste of Utica cookbook recipes.  We have two different versions of Humus offered on pages 14 and 15 of our book  DSC_0355   Humus, offered by Kathleen Hobiaca is very simple.  Using a food processor or blender add the following:

  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 TBS oil
  • 1 can chick peas – drain but reserve the juice.
  • 1 heaping TBS of Tahini *Tahini is ground hulled sesame seeds made into a paste and available at your local grocery store.
  • juice of 1 or 2 lemons

Process until smooth.  If it seems too thick for your liking, add the liquid from the drained chick peas to thin.  Kathleen suggests you serve this traditional dip with pita bread.  You can see, I have opted for carrots and thin bread sticks.

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The next recipe, on page 15, is Hummus and offered by our very own….(drum roll please….) Joe Mezz.  Joe makes this dip for a crowd. 

  • 5 cups chick peas (garbanzo beans)…this equates to about 3 15oz cans – drained, or 2 cups dried which you have soaked then cooked.
  • 1/4 cup Tahini
  • 2 TBS cold water
  • 2 TBS fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic, chopped
  • 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil

Drain and rinse the chick peas if using canned. Combine the chick peas with every ingredient EXCEPT the olive oil in the food processor.  Blend to a rough puree, adding more water if necessary.  The mixture should not be totally smooth.  Scrape the mixture into a bowl THEN stir in the olive oil.

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Humus or Hummus is a very popular dip around Utica.  You will see it at almost every house party, tail gate party, picnic…it’s just a wonderful side.  I’ve had it with lettuce leaves, cabbage leaves, pita triangles, carrots, celery….. it lends itself to being a dipping favorite.

Ted thought the dip needed more lemon.  I thought the dip was perfect.  The solution:  add lemon slices on the side to customize for personal prefences.  Sometimes the garlic flavor will be very overwhelming but in these two recipes, both cooks offered a mixture that was nicely balanced.

DSC_1091   DSC_1092 What’s your favorite way to make humus? Have you ever had it before and ….how do YOU spell it? 

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