Another nutty delight - Hummus?

Well poo. I got a not-so-good phone call from my doc yesterday. Then I woke up with a swollen throat...which means I'm staying home today. AND I'm not allowed to workout. It's kind of like torture--if you know me, you know I'm a "do-er". So naturally when I'm bored inside I turn to baking. Well shit (I mean poo) again! I am on a restricted diet...no meat (not like I bake with meat), no processed foods (not like I do that much anyway), little sugar, no cheese and no nuts. That nice new tub of almond butter in the cupboard is all for my boyfriend now.

So what am I supposed to make? Well I know I can't have this because it's another type of nut butter but I bought a jar of tahini with the intent to make hummus. So that's exactly what I whipped up today. My boyfriend also loves hummus so he'll eat it =)

Hummus' main ingredients are garbanzo beans aka chickpeas and  tahini. What the heck is tahini? Sesame seed paste/butter. I bought mine at whole foods. Here's a bit of info:

Sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper, but they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber. In addition to these important nutrients, sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans, and have been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect in humans, and to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E supplies in animals. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage.


It was my first time making homemade hummus and the recipe I used was a bit confusing...too many steps. Here it is in a simpler version:

Ingredients: 

• 1 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced (I roasted mine in tinfoil in the oven @350 for 40 minutes)
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (I used part apple cider vinegar for an added health bonus)
• 3 tbsp water
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 3/4 tsp garlic salt

Preparation:

Puree all ingredients together in a food processor or blender, scraping the sides as needed. You may need to add a bit more water to get the consistency that you prefer.