Hummus and Greek Salad Dressing Recipe

If you like hummus and have never made it, please do yourself a favor and give it a try. It is so much better and cheaper than store bought. You could use a blender but I like using a food processor. Throw in garlic cloves. I am using three cans of beans in this recipe so I used 6-7 cloves of garlic.


Pulse this until the garlic is chopped into very small pieces.


Add a heaping teaspoon of sea salt. Pulse this again with the garlic.


Toast several teaspoons of cumin. I used about 5 teaspoons. When you smell the heavenly smell and it just begins to turn a bit darker, it is ready. Be careful not to let it burn. This step is important because it really brings out the flavor of the cumin.


Add the cumin to the garlic and salt mixture and pulse a couple times again.



Take a jar of tahini and add about 4 tablespoons of this to the processor. Tahini is sold in the Mediterranean section of the grocery store. It is like peanut butter but it is made with sesame seeds.


Pulse this for a second or two.


Add a bit of cayenne pepper.


I add just enough to enhance the flavor and not add heat.


Juice 3-4 lemons. This is a recipe of balance and a lot depends on how you like your hummus to taste. Add more or less garlic or lemon and taste as you go.


Pour the lemon in and pulse some more.


Then add the garbanzo beans. I added 3 cans. Reserve some of the liquid from the beans.



I like my hummus smooth and creamy. Some people like it a bit course. Again, you can decide how you prefer it. Add some of the reserved bean liquid as you are blending it to get the right consistency.


When finished, put it in a container and drizzle it with olive oil.


Greek Salad Dressing

I forgot to photograph a few steps in the dressing recipe but basically, I start out by putting the dry ingredients in a bowl and moistening them with water and allow them to sit for about 10 minutes. I've used garlic powder, salt and pepper, oregano, mint, dill and cumin. I use all dried ingredients which makes the dressing last longer than if you used fresh herbs and garlic.


Stir it around with about a half cup of water to make a paste.


This is part of the lineup. I use both red wine vinegar and balsamic and the juice of 3 lemons. I also add a bit of honey. Only about a tablespoon. This will not make it sweet but rather just cuts the bite from the acids. I put all of this in the processor and as it is running I add olive oil. I don't measure this. I make it to taste. The measurements depend on how much you are making.


I used about one and a half cups of the acidic ingredients and about 2 cups of olive oil.


I serve the hummus with pita, grape leaves, feta, Kalamata olives and slices of roasted red peppers.

Comments

Bitsa Lit said…
that is lip smackin good lol!
you should open a business or do a cook book or something! you could make a fortune with it, especially if you use the pictures....
I love pictures when im cooking but none ever explain it as well as yours....
Bitsa Lit said…
that is lip smackin good lol!
you should open a business or do a cook book or something! you could make a fortune with it, especially if you use the pictures....
I love pictures when im cooking but none ever explain it as well as yours....
Melodie said…
I have never tried hummus! We eat the heck out of that bean dip in a can though! This looks good,I may give it a try!
Mama Feoneafey said…
Hey Lady! This looks so good.. I tried to make hummus once, but the recipe i had wasn't very good.. it was quit gritty and bland.. and I Love hummus .. Yours on the other hand really made my mouth water just reading it so I will be giving this one a whirl! and i would like to say ditto the comment SeeThroughGreen made about you writing a book !! you would seriously be rich!!!!!
I almost never make greek food here at home since I have friends that makes it so much better :-) :-)
I agree with You, hummus should be smooth and creamy!
Have a great day now!
Christer.
Watcher said…
Nom! That looks delicious.
I second the suggestion of you selling a cookbook!
Wizardess said…
Yes, yummerness. I have never made hummus, but I use chickpeas in recipes a fair amount. Soaking & cooking dried ones is pretty easy & gives a richer taste. You can do a quick soak--bring em to a boil & then let sit for an hour, then cook til tender. They are similar to dried black beans in the cooking time they need.
looks good....LOVE that darling picture of Teddy on the sidebar...those paws....so cute...

just dragging along over here...barely....

happy friday and hugs to teddy...

kary
xxx
Jennifer said…
I LOVE hummus and have never tried making it... this recipe gives me the courage to try!!

How long will it last refrigerated?
Bridgett said…
Oh, this meal is sooo right up my alley. I love Greek food, and especially hummus. I'm going to try and make my own hummus...you've inspired me.

Love you, Jaz!
OPA! *sound of plates smashing*
Okay, that's it- I'm moving into your house! :p

Everything you make looks absolutely, positively delicious!
(... I think I've told you that before, hehe)
Guillaume said…
I made hummus recently, it did not taste as nice as what we buy, so it might be the last time we make it. But we might try this recipe now.
Again...I am now sooooo hungry. Love hummus and grape leaves!!! Yum!

Cheers!
brokenteepee said…
With all due irony I hate chick peas but love hummus.
Sharlene T. said…
Thanks for a great recipe and directions. Definitely going to do this one. Thanks for sharing.
brandi said…
~yes hungry here too...it is dinner time and this sounds delicious...i have never tried adding the honey and balsamic to the dressing but sounds like it would be great...thanks again fo rsuch yummy recipes...brightest blessing~
Rue said…
I buy Greek dressing quite a bit, so this is a great way to make it myself and save some money! Thanks!
William Bezek said…
Oh Boy, I fear I'm too late to comment on this....I sadly disagree with one point: you must rinse the beans well and don't for any reason use the liquid in the can or you'll have everyone's backside screaming OPA! Ha Ha...lots of experience with Greek food (I'm married to Hercules you know).
Cindi Myers said…
Ditto! about the cookbook idea!
Suzie said…
Thank you for showing how easy it is to make Hummus! My whole family loves it, and I've always taken the easy way out and just bought it. I'm sure that your recipe is light years beyond in flavor. And once I make it, there will no be going back.

And the dressing looks super good too! I"m always on the lookout for new ones to try!
Jennifer said…
I tried the hummus recipe and blogged about it here:
http://quietest-moments.blogspot.com/2010/03/baking-and-crafting-and-gardening-oh-my.html

I LOVED it and will surely make it again. But I will use less lemon and less cumin next time, and probably more garlic. ;)

Thank you so much!!