Thursday, September 13, 2007

Garlic and Lemon Hummus | ATK Light Recipe

Yeah, as you can see I'm still on the vegetarian bandwagon. I'm just still working through some of my food issues, so while that happens, I hope you enjoy vegetarian fare. I'm sure come Thanksgiving I'll be making cauldrons full of turkey soup, we'll see when we get there.

Two things.
One.
I got on the elevator this morning with a middle aged man, he had salt and pepper hair, and was about my height - I'm five two people, this was not a big man. I noticed that he had a back pack on, which struck me funny that a middle aged man, seemingly on the way to his professional job would chose a backpack, over say a briefcase, or a man's carry all. I was getting off on the seventh floor, he the fourth. As he exited the elevator, I noticed that the back of his backpack had his initials sewed into it, JED. Now this seemed too weird for me, as he exited it was more like he was in seventh grade on his way to science class, not fifty-ish and on his way to work. Am I wrong, are monogrammed backpacks a little too immature for the workplace? I don't know, It just struck me odd this morning.

Two.
A few years ago CB's office had a little open house party for all their clients. Basically it was just appetizers, wine and aren't we great, don't you love us conversation. CB has two bosses, it's a husband and wife team which I think is so great and so super crazy at the same time, if CB and I worked together, I'm sure one of us would not make it out alive. Anyway, when I got to the party, his female boss did hugs and kisses and then proceeded to tell me what kind of food they were offering in the way of appetizers. When we got to the hummus display she said "and we have this lovely whooooo-maaahhs. I shit you not this is how she pronounced it, I nearly burst out laughing, spraying bits of spittle all over her face. I thought she was kidding. She wasn't. I said to CB; "did you have any of the whooo-maaahs", he quickly shushed me, "they both pronounce it that way". Both of his bosses, husband and wife, pronounced it this way - the whole night I nearly peed myself every time anyone got near the hummus display. Am I wrong, is this the way its supposed to be pronounced, I assumed it was pronounced phonetically hum-mus (hummus), not whooomaaahhs. Anyway - now in the house this is how we pronounce it, because it brings a smile to our face, and because we are super mature.

This recipe is from the Best Light Recipes from America's Test Kitchen. It's another winner.
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas drained and rinsed
6 tbs water
3 tbs juice from one large lemon
2 tbs tahini
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 small garlic clove minced
Pinch cayenne pepper

1.Process the chickpeas, water, lemon juice, tahini, 2 tsp of the oil, salt, garlic and cayenne together in the food processor until very smooth, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.

2. Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the flavors meld, about 30 minutes. (The hummus covered can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to temperature and season with additional lemon juice, salt, and cayenne as needed before serving.) To serve, make a well in the center of the hummus, drizzle with remaining teaspoon of olive oil in the well.

Per 1/4 Cup Serving: Call 100; Fat 5g; Sat Fat .5g; Chol 0mg; Carb 10g; Protein 4g; Fiber 3g; Sodium 320mg

Rating = Damn Good

14 comments:

Trevor said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trevor said...

Just found your blog, very nice, I'm in Somerville myself.

I 've also been on a hummus kick this summer. It's been a staple afternoon snack. Alwys better homemade...

JB said...

Trevor - thanks for stopping by. I just checked out your site too - it's funny salt cod is one of my favorite things in the worls.

J

TD said...

i used to have a friend who pronounced it "hyoo-mus." as in dirt. i never corrected him. but i never ate his hummus either, because maybe he was pronouncing it that way because there really WAS decomposed vegetable matter in there. i wasn't taking any chances.

JB said...

TD - wow, I just don't get it, doesn't it look like it should be pronounced the way it's spelled. I didn't think there could be that many variations on the pronunciation. Thanks for posting.

Kate B said...

I looked it up in online dictionaries. It can be pronounced both ways. I was surprised! I've never heard it as Hooomas before - but....
hum·mus also hum·us or hom·mos (hŏŏm'əs, hŭm'-)
n. A smooth thick mixture of mashed chickpeas, tahini, oil, lemon juice, and garlic, used especially as a dip for pita.
hum·mus /ˈhʊməs/ Pronunciation[hoom-uhs] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Middle Eastern Cookery. a paste or dip made of chickpeas mashed with oil, garlic, lemon juice, and tahini and usually eaten with pita.

I guess you do learn a new thing every day!

JB said...

So I've been making fun of them for no reason? I bet the pronounce herbs with an over exaggerated H!

Becky said...

i don't care what the dictionary says, that is a ridiculous pronunciation. the recipe looks great though, and your photo is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Jules - what type of Tahini do you use? I'm trying to figure out what kind is best, and am a little unclear where to get "good" tahini?

(Which, by the way, you might heard pronounced "Thina" as it is pronounced in Israel and Palestine apparently)

JB said...

Hals - I bought a big glass jar of it in the ethnic section of the grocery store. I'll give you a buzz this afternoon and tell you the brand.

Anonymous said...

I recently found your blog via Google Reader's recommendations. Thank you so much for this recipe! I've been trying different hummus recipes, so that I can stop spending $$$ on a pre-made tub from the grocery store, but none of them have been quite right. I made this hummus yesterday and it was wonderful! Exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you!

JB said...

xsquared - i'm so glad you like it. the recipe is so great becuse you can literally add anything you want to it - i'm going to try to make a spinach and artichoke one soon derived from this recipe.

Anonymous said...

In the Middle East it is pronounced (yes don't laugh)"who moose". I laugh when I hear Americans say hum us! (It is our dish after all). Great site! Thanks for all the time and effort you've put in to it!

Anonymous said...

i can't stop laughing...that pronunciation is so funny. even right now...when i am not reading the pronunciation it is funny.
anyway...been looking for a lemon hummus recipe as i found a brand i like in Davis but now cannot find it where i live. go figure. but homemade is usually always better, so i'll give this a shot.
oh and i usually see tahini at whole foods...just fyi.
thanks!