I admit to a love affair with hummus.  So soft and lovely with variations limited only by your imagination!

The best hummus I ever had was at a Greek restaurant in Orlando that set a big wooden mortar and pestle at your table when you sat down.  The server proceeded to pour in chickpeas (garbanzo beans),  extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.  Then, he mashed it all together with the pestle and let us scoop it up with the warm, buttery pita bread he had brought us.  It was fantastic and simple and I decided right then and there, that’s how I want my hummus from now on!  Store bought hummus doesn’t even begin to compare to homemade!

The best thing is, you can really add anything to your hummus to make it your own.

Feel free to get creative with your ingredients! Try artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, feta cheese, fresh parsley, kalamata olives, ripe avocado, crushed red pepper, fresh rosemary, etc., etc.  You get the idea.  Maybe it ceases to be true hummus but it becomes a fresh and healthy, low calorie and high protein spread for crackers, warm pita or fresh vegetables.

You can also change up the beans you use.  Try black beans, white cannellini beans, kidney beans, really whatever you have on hand.

I made 3 variations this week which I will share with you.  Feel free to play around with the ingredients!  I’d love to hear about your wonderful creations!

Kitchen Princess Classic Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans

2-4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 Tablespoon fresh parsley

1 clove garlic, minced or put through a garlic press

1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt

Several grinds of fresh, black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cumin (optional)

1/4 to 1/2 cup tahini paste

2-4 tablespoons water or enough to make a creamy consistency

Put everything in the blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  Put in a bowl and drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with paprika.  Use as a dip for pita, crackers or fresh veggies or as a sandwich spread.

Kitchen Princess Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans

1/4 to 1/2 cup roasted red peppers

2-4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

juice of half a lemon-about 2 or 3 Tablespoons

1 clove garlic minced

1/4 cup tahini

1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt

fresh ground pepper

2-4 Tablespoons water

Whirl everything together in your blender or food processor.  This is a beautiful color and tastes really fresh and lovely!

Kitchen Princess Roasted Eggplant Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans

1 small eggplant that has been peeled, cut into cubes, drizzled with olive oil and salt and pepper, and roasted at 350 for about half an hour or until soft.

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon parsley

1 clove garlic, minced

2-4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

2-4 Tablespoons water

1/4 cup tahini

Whirl everything in the blender or food processor till smooth.

This hummus is very smooth with an almost sweet and nutty flavor.  Very delicate and lovely.  You could add a little crushed red pepper to add some zing!

Now go out there and start creating your own Kitchen Princess masterpiece!