Chipotle Hummus

Friday, August 22, 2008

Ready for your food history lesson of the day?
Many cuisine-related sources describe hummus as one of the oldest known prepared foods, with a long history in the Middle East which stretches back to antiquity, but its historical origins are unknown. The main ingredients of hummus were known in the ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern worlds, however it is unknown whether hummus with tahini or any similar dish was made.

While the antiquity of hummus is not well documented, the history of its principal ingredient is more widely understood. Chickpeas are hummus' main ingredient and have been a human food item for over 10,000 years. The chickpea was used as a food item in Palestine before 4000 BC, was a common street dish in ancient Rome and was one of the earliest crops cultivated in Mesopotamia. Archaeological evidence identifies chickpeas in the Sumerian diet before 2500 BC. They are noted in a 13th century work by Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Karim al Katab al Baghdadi of Persia for a "simple dish" of meat, pulses and spices.
Now don't you feel smarter!
I had so much fun with the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus the other day, I wanted to do it again. As I was perusing the contents of my pantry, what should catch my eye but the chipotle in adobo sauce that has been moved to at least two new houses. Perfect!

Warning, this is not for the faint at heart. I burned my face off with my first try. Had to add another can of garbanzo beans to tame it down. I won't taste anything for a week now. But boy are my sinuses clear!


Ingredients


2 cans garbanzo beans

1 can chipotle in adobo sauce

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup tahini

juice from 1 lemon

3 cloves garlic

2 tsp cumin

salt to taste


Drain the garbanzo beans, reserve the liquid from 1 can. Take 4 chilies from the can and rough chop.


To your food processor, add the garbanzo beans, 4 chilies, 2 tsp adobo sauce, the olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and cumin. As the hummus is mixing, slowly add in half of the juice from the beans, adding more if the texture is too thick. Add salt to your personal taste. I prefer sea salt.

Isn't it a pretty color. Don't be deceived! It's spiciness will sneak up on you and bite you on the A**.

But served in a pretty bowl (all mine were full or dirty, so no pictures for you!) with some homemade pita chips, and you will be a fan. Trust me...make yourself some hummus today. But if you aren't a fan of the heat, stick with my roasted red pepper hummus. Cause this one is H.O.T.!

For those of you ready to try hummus, but not wanting to make your own, most of the store bought stuff is pretty good. Price Club and Sam's Club have particularly tasty versions. Store bought pita chips aren't bad, and hummus is good as a veggie dip too. Let me know how you like it!

Cheers,

Christine

2 comments:

mom said...

not sure you have convinced me yet!

Love the picture of "my girls".

Mom

Bonnie said...

Too hot for me. Even Bill's salsa is too hot...Bonnie

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