Monday, September 24, 2007

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Hummus is a Middle Eastern spread made from chickpeas or garbanzo beans, and tahini, a paste of sesame seeds. It is typically eaten with pita or other flat bread.
When I first tasted hummus a couple of years back, I disliked it instantly. Being new to the country and never having experimented with non-Indian food, I obviously needed time to get accustomed to eating pureed chickpeas. I believe that it is an acquired taste. But now, with time, I have grown to like hummus and even make my own these days.

You can buy hummus in most grocery stores, but it's so easy to make and so much more fun to make your own by experimenting with the ingredients and adjusting the flavors just the way you want it . Tahini too can be easily found in your local grocery store, but it can be made at home too.
Here’s an easy way to make your own tahini. I used store-bought tahini for making this. Adding too much adds a slightly bitter taste to the hummus.

Through trial and error, I have arrived at the proportions indicated below and this has been working well for me.
Ingredients:
A can (15 oz) of chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained
2 big pieces of roasted red pepper (I used the jarred ones)
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
A big pinch or two of ground cumin
2 Tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
1Tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste.


Method:
Place all the ingredients (except the oil) in a food processor and blend well. Add the olive oil in a thin stream, with the processor running, till everything comes together to form a smooth paste. Season with salt.


Serve with toasted pita triangles.


This is my entry for the Middle Eastern edition of A.W.E.D. being hosted by Siri @ Siri's Corner.

58 Burps:

Laavanya said...

Pretty looking Hummus TBC. I've never tried adding roasted red peppers before... will try that next time.

Coffee said...

Slurp!! This is awesome! Awesome! Awesome! And the pic does enough justice to it! :)

Namratha said...

I couldn't have read this at a better time, I just bought canned Roasted red peppers...yippee! :) I'm gonna try this soon TBC..thanks for the recipe, hummus looks amazing..Love Hummus!

musical said...

Yum yum! looks great! peppers in hummus must have tasted great! I regularly make hummus, next batch will be prepared this way.

TheCooker said...

Beautiful pictures!
I agree, the homemade version is much better than the storebought one.

Bindiya said...

LOVELY!wish i could have some right now.

amna said...

i love pita break and hummus. this looks like an interesting variation

Suganya said...

Substitute chickpeas with mayonnaise and omit cumin - you get aioli. Which is equally amazing with crunchy toasts!

zlamushka said...

Hey TBC,

fabulous hummus, I love this spread. I make the same one, but instead of red pepper, I add sun dried tomatoes, or olives, or roasted eggplant, all work equally great. I have to add your innovation to my repertoire...

Sia said...

adding roasted pepper appeals to me tbc. beautiful pic...

Saju said...

You have made me sooooooo hungry. That looks delish. I can't wait to try it.

Unknown said...

Yummyyyy... Hummus!!! Looks delicious!!!

Finla said...

Love hummus.
First time i see roasted pepper hummus. It has a beautiful colour

FH said...

I love Hummus and with red bell pepper, it looks fabulous.I always have a bottle of those!:))

Richa said...

oh yes! those red peppers do work so well, looks delicious :)

Swaruchy said...

Hi tbc......The dish looks delectable.......I bet it tasted great dear....:-)
Nice one :-)

bee said...

this has got to be one of the tastiest dips. we make it often and never tire of it.

Grihini said...

Lovely red color... must have been a sold out!

Suma Gandlur said...

Nice twist to the recipe. I will try this one soon and will let you know. :))

Anonymous said...

Hii,

Nice pic.
Garbanzo Bean is a versitile pulse isnt it? The Garbanzo Bean noodle soup is one of my fav soups.
Nice blog and the pictures are very clear and undoubtdly beautiful.
Nikki

Manasi said...

I love Hummus ('cept the mint version) but with red bell pepper, it looks fabulous!!

Anonymous said...

This looks so good, i have never tasted or tried hummus. will sure try your recipe...I love chickpeas so I am sure i'll like this one too. Thanks.

Rajitha said...

as usual it looks amazing..i love home-made hummus..but the store bought ones are a bit too pasty..no flavor or character u know ;)

Padma said...

Such a nice photo of hummus, who/how can one ever resist it! Nice recipe TBC!

Susan said...

I see many flavors of commercial hummus in the markets, but I doubt any taste as good as this colorful dish. You've heard this before, but are you quite sure you're a not an accomplished cook in disguise?

Sharmi said...

very glamorous looking hummus. never made them at home though.

Dee said...

I love the colour, can I have a bite please???

Anonymous said...

Best dip ever. This hummus is dressed gorgeously.

Kribha said...

I've tasted only plain hummus before. This is surely a nice variation. The color is superb. Lovely presentation.

Prajusha said...

hummus looks colorful and beautiful pics.

Kajal said...

Hummmmmmmmmmmus...Very nice color of red pepper my dear looks yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sona - quick picks/pick quicks said...

wow!!!..the hummus looks great!!..really mouth wtering..great colour

Cris said...

Oh you won't believe this, but his is popular here, I have never eaten with roasted red pepper, sounds terrific!

Rohini's kitchen said...

Wow! nice blog. Red pepper hummus looks yummy! Added u to my blogroll.

Anonymous said...

Hi there you have a great blog,lovely recipes. Feel free to visit my blog too :)

Jeena xx

click here for food recipes

diyadear said...

hi,
wow tat sure looks so yummy!!! n r blog is a popular one i c.. gr8!!

Cynthia said...

This delicious hummus has been bookmarked my friend. Look at that strinkingly, beautiful colour!

TBC said...

Laavanya, Namratha, Musical, Zlamushka, Saju, Suma, Madhu, Cynthia- thanks gals, for all the compliments. Do let me know if u guys try it out.I would love to hear of your version to this.:-)

Coffee, TC, Bindiya, Nags, Sia, Cinnamon, Happy Cook, Asha, Richa, Sirisha, Bee, Grihini, Manasi, Rajitha, Padma, Sharmi, Dee, Gini, Kribha, Prajusha, Kajal, Sona, Cris- girls, thank you so much for taking the time to leave your trails here:-) It means a lot to me.


Suganya,you had me confused there for a sec! Now, I wouldn't be able to call that a hummus, would I?;-).
So you think my recipe is amazing , huh?
Aioli is a great sauce too... it's basically garlicky mayo & I've tried that too & love it:-)

Nikki, welcome & thanks for stopping by:-)



Susan, I used store bought hummus once & decided that I had to make my own!
Accomplished cook? moi ? far from it! You are too kind. But keep saying such nice things. It's good for my ego;-)


Rohini, welcome to my space and thanks for adding me to your roll:-)


Jeena, I most certainly will. I will head over there in a little bit:-)

Diyadear, welcome to my blog. Thanks for the kind words:)

Viji said...

Nice color and texture. Ideal for breads. Tks for sharing. RCI TAmil festival is on. Check out my blog for details. Expecting your authentic entries TBC. Thanks. Viji

Anonymous said...

hey tbc, hummus looks very yummy

Daily Meals said...

Hi TBC,
First time in your blog. Hummus looks delicious.
Vijaya.

Seena said...

TBC,
One of my kids favourites..looks great..!

Tys on Ice said...

i love hummous...iam currently in the middle east and pita bread and hummous, i believe make a great snack while u wait for the main course...iam going to try out ur version..it somehow seems more tasty...

TBC said...

Viji,thanks.
I will hopefully make some authentic Tamil preparation over the next month & send it to you:-)

Rahin, thanks for stopping by.


Daily meals- I like your blog name, Vijaya;-)
Welcome!


Seena,it is high in protein too... great for the kids.


Tys, welcome here:-)
I am going to stop by at your blog for my daily dose of humor.
You are going to try it out? or are you going to make your wife do that for ya?;-)
Either way, do let me know how you like it.

Apple said...

Pineapple pudding looks awesome...but 'm on a diet..so I quickly turned my sight off the dish...hummous looks tempting..loved both the dishes..

marriedtoadesi.com said...

Hi TBC,

Love this recipe. I'm certainly going to try adding roasted red pepper, and cumin to my hummus next time.

Just awesome.

Ya...totally changing my blog look. Just sick of the current look! But its taking me waaaay to much time.
Kanch

TBC said...

Apple- thanks-)
Yeah, nothing for you till you are off that diet;-)


Kanchana, thanks.
Change is good;-) I am too scared to do anything to my blog 'cos I'm pretty sure s'thing wd go wrong & then I would have no idea how to fix it.

Sabita Sagi said...

hii..thnx for visiting my blog...ur hummus recipe is quite tempting...will definitely...sabita

TBC said...

Sabita: do let me know if you try it.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I love roasted red pepper hummus!The colour itself enlivens a party table!

Mansi said...

wow, this looks really nice TBC!! I love the color:) I add a little tomato to this...

TBC said...

Valli, yes , the addition of the red pepper does give it a beautiful color.


Mansi, thanks!
Tomatoes? now that's something for me to think about for next time:-)

Lisa Turner said...

Thanks for this recipe! I have been planning on making hummus but now it will be sooner than later.

You have a great collection of recipes here and I'll be stopping by often.

TBC said...

Lisa, welcome & thanks for visiting:-)
Do let me know how you like it.

SeeC said...

Hi TBC,

Hope you are doing good. Its been long time since I checked your blog.

I am definitely going to try out this sometime.

Has come out perfectly. Thanks for sharing :)

sangi said...

hey TBC...
just an ameture searching and googling for exciting new recipes. i came across ur version of the hummus, ihave to say sounds extremey alluring. im itching to try it out.
will let u know how it turns out.
thanks...

TBC said...

Hey Ignas- welcome! :D
I'm glad you managed to find something that u like. Do let me know how u like it if u make it.:)

Veena.N.K said...

Beautiful looking blog and nice recipes!

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