After going to see the new blockbuster, Julie & Julia today, I was inspired to come home and create something! I know that the movie revolved around French food, which is YUMMY, but today, I had something different in mind...
Rob and I LOVE Mediterranean/Arabic food, especially at our local favorite restaurant, The Jerusalem Cafe. We especially love hummus. We have even become somewhat "hummus connoisseurs" in our own rite. So, here is the recipe for hummus that I use and that I hope you will try. It's adapted from the recipe in "How to Cook Everything". I just use a little more olive oil than what it calls for and I adjust the seasonings a little differently. I have included step by step instructions and pictures....it's SO easy! You can eat hummus as an appetizer, but we actually like it for a meal. You can make sandwiches on the flatbreads instead of cutting them in the triangles if you like. If you're eating it for a meal...it is very filling. I hope that you will try it...and by all means, please let me know if you do and let me know how you like it! Enjoy! (And it's good for you!)
THE WIFE'S HUMMUS
- (2) 16 oz cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
- juice of 2 fresh lemons
- 1/2 cup Tahini (sesame puree)
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (high quality)
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
- 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 Tbsp Hungarian paprika
- pinch of sea salt
- parsley (garnish)
- extra virgin olive oil (garnish)
- Hungarian paprika (garnish)
- gyro bread (true flatbread--not pita bread, which is really thin)
Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor or a blender and blend to desired consistency.
To cook flatbreads:
Place flatbreads on a baking sheet and put in the center rack of the oven. Put oven on broil but watch closely....brown them just a little on the bottom sides and only let the top sides just heat up and stay "white" and soft...just flip them and get them hot on both sides. Cut in triangles using a pizza cutter.
...and get ready to make a pretty plate. Dust with parsley, a tiny bit of paprika, another drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and garnish with kalamata olives (I only had jumbo queen olives in the fridge tonight....any will do)
...and add your hot gyro/flatbread slices! ENJOY!
