Homemade Hummus

by Alon
(Israel)

Ingredients

1 cups dried chickpeas
1/2 cup tahini
juice from 1 squeezed lemons
1-2 garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon cumin
baking soda
salt
olive oil
parsley

Preparation

1. Sort the chickpeas, go over them and look for damaged grains and small stones.

2. Wash the chickpeas few times, until the water is transparent. Soak them in clean water over night with 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Then, wash it, and soak again in clean water for a few more hours. The grains should absorb most of the water and almost double their volume.

3. Wash the chickpeas and put them in a large pot. Cover with water, add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and cook until the grains are very easily smashed. It should take a while and during this time remove the peels and foam which float over the cooking water.

4. When done, take the grains out and keep the cooking water. Put the chickpeas into a food processor and grind well. Leave it to chill a little while before you continue.

5. Add the tahini, lemon juice, salt, cumin and garlic and keep on processing until you get the desired texture. If the Humus is too thick, add some of the cooking water.

To garnish you can sprinkle the hummus with some good olive oil and chopped parsley.