Hummus

Hummus is really easy to make. I am lucky in that we have frozen pre-cooked chick peas. Whatever chick peas you use, make sure that you add bicarbonate of soda to the water. This helps the skin come off the chick peas, and that makes all the difference in taste.

Ingredients >   2/3 cup chickpeas >   1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda >   6 Tbsp raw tahina/tahini >   Juice of 1 lemon  >   1 clove garlic crushed >   Water from chickpeas >   Ground cumin and salt to taste

Steps 1.  If using raw chickpeas, follow the instructions on the packet to prepare them. Remember to add the bicarbonate of soda when cooking. Then go to step 4. 2.  Boil water in a small saucepan and add the chickpeas and bicarbonate of soda.  3.  Bring back to a roiling boil, turn off the heat, and let the chickpeas cool.   4.  Using a slotted spoon, take the cooked and cooled chickpeas out of the water and remove any of the skins (by rolling the chickpea between your fingers) that didn't come off during the cooking process. Keep the water. 5.  Put the chickpeas in the small bowl of the food processor.  6.  Mix the tahini garlic and lemon juice. Add enough of the reserved water that the chickpeas cooked in to form a smooth paste.   7. Add the paste to the chickpeas in the food processor and make a puree.   8.  Add a generous pinch of both ground cumin and salt, and if necessary, add some more of the water until you have a soft paste.   9.   Taste and add more seasoning, lemon juice or garlic, if required.