Recipe: Hummus

Hummus is a high protein dip that contains unsaturated (good) fats, vitamins and essential minerals. Serve with vegetable sticks or whole-wheat Arabic bread for a heart-healthy addition to a mezze, or as a snack between meals.

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

• 100g dry chickpeas
• Pinch baking soda
• 60g tahini (sesame paste)
• 40ml fresh lemon juice
• 12ml extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp paprika powder
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions

1. Soak the dry chickpeas for at least 24 hours in fresh water.
2. Cook the chickpeas in boiling water until tender and soft, then drain them and leave to cool before removing their skins.
3. In a food processor combine the tahini paste and lemon juice, then add the cooked and cleaned chickpeas.
4. Add half of the olive oil and continue to blend until the mixture is smooth. Add water if necessary to achieve desired consistency and texture.
5. Refrigerate and serve drizzled with remaining olive oil, and a sprinkling of paprika.