Quick Hummus

Ingredients:                                                               

                                                                            

1 can of garbanzo (ceci) beans                                             

1 medium-sized clove of garlic (or 1/2 of a big clove)                     

1 Tablespoon olive oil                                                     

3 Tablespoons sesame seed paste (tahina)                                   

3 Tablespoons of lemon juice                                               

a pinch of cayenne (red) pepper                                            

                                                                            

Strain the garbanzo beans, reserving the liquid. Put the garbanzo beans    

and all of the other ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for about 20  seconds. Turn off the blender and stir the mixture with a spoon. Add from  the reserved liquid, 1 spoon at a time, just enough to get the mixture to  run smoothly in the blender. (You will not need to add all of the liquid.) 

Run the blender for about 20 seconds after each addition of liquid. The    

final product should be thick, not runny.                                  

Spoon into a bowl or plate. Drizzle with more olive oil if desired.        

                                                                            

Serve with grilled meats or spread in sandwiches.                          

For a light dinner, serve along-side a plate of finely chopped tossed      

salad. Eat with pita or other soft flat bread, using the bread to grab the 

hummus dip and salad (without the use of spoon or fork).                   

  

VARIATION: For a lighter tasting and creamer Hummus, add 3 Tablespoons of  

plain yogurt to the recipe.