Creamy Hummus (Better Than Store-Bought)

It is so easy and so much cheaper to prepare hummus from scratch. My kids love hummus now that we've started making it at home. They especially love the idea of making their own hummus faces. To create hummus faces, we simply cut up a variety of vegetables into different shapes and use any bread that we have to spread the hummus on. Bagels and Pita bread works especially well!

A few tips and tricks that I have found make homemade hummus tastier.

• Use good tahini. When tahini has separated and the oil is swimming on top and it is hard to mix the oil back into the solid part, it is likely that the tahini is too old. Also make sure to taste your tahini! It should have a pleasant bitter taste. I buy my tahini at a local Mediterranean grocery store and really love the brand al wadi.
• Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice is typically dull tasting!
• Use ice cold water when adding it to your tahini mixture. I like adding a few ice cubes to my water before adding it to the food processor. Ice cold water contributes to a fluffier hummus!

Ingredients: 

• 1 (15oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• juice of 1 lemon (3 tablespoons or more)
• 1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped or minced
• 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 2 - 4 tablespoons ice water, more as needed
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• paprika or Sumac and more olive oil for optional decoration

Instructions: 

1. In a food processor, combine garlic, lemon juice and salt and process
2. Add the tahini to the food processor and puree until the mixture is combined and thickens. 
3. While food processor is running, add the iced water in a slow stream. 
4. Now add the chickpeas, cumin, and olive oil and blend for about two minutes or until mixture is creamy.
   
5. Stop and scrape down the sides as need and taste. You may need to add a tiny bit more water, lemon juice.
6. Transfer to a bowl and create a swirling pattern with a big spoon or spatula. Then drizzle a bit of olive oil on top and sprinkle with paprika or Sumac.