Creamy Traditional Lebanese Hummus

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Have you ever had traditional Lebanese hummus? It is significantly different from most hummus served in America. It is creamy, smooth, and better than any hummus bought at a store.

I know that sounds biased, but I promise it's not. As a Lebanese-American I take my hummus seriously. This is traditional Lebanese hummus. I like to pair hummus with tabouli, a traditional Arabic salad.

How Is This Hummus Different?

If you have had traditional hummus, you will notice one thing; the texture is very smooth. There is only one way to achieve this smooth texture: removing the garbanzo bean shells. To this, you must:

• First: Soak the garbanzo beans in baking soda. I know that using baking soda to make hummus sounds crazy, but it works. Start by opening a can of chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), drain, and rinse. Then place the chickpeas in a bowl, fill with water to cover by 2 inches, and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Let the chickpeas soak for five to ten minutes. This step is double-acting; it softens the beans and loosens the shell.

• Then: Remove the shells. Once the beans have soaked for a few minutes, the shells will disconnect from the beans. Gently rub the chickpeas together to remove the shells. This does not have to be perfect. Aim for 80% removed. You will find the shells slide right off. This step takes about 10 -15 minutes and is one of two keys to perfect hummus.

Ingredients

Hummus only takes a few ingredients to make, and you will already have most of them. I like to add all kinds of toppings to my hummus, especially kalamata olives. The flavors complement each other and help make this dip insanely delicious! The ingredients you will need are:

• Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans (15oz)
• Fresh lemon juice (¼ cup)
• Tahini (2 tablespoons)

• Garlic cloves (1)
• Pinch of salt
• Ice cubes (2)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Olive oil
• Optional toppings: parsley, kalamata olives, tomatoes, carrots, etc.

What the Heck is Tahini?

Tahini is a Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame seeds. I like to think of tahini as the sesame seed version of peanut butter. Similar to peanut butter, tahini varies in quality. I strongly believe it is worth investing in good tahini. I always find the best quality tahini in the kosher section of the grocery store. At my store, it will cost around $6, which is a little more than a container of pre-made hummus and so worth it.