Variations on a Theme

Spring has officially sprung in the great northwest and in my home that means it's hummus time!  Last year around this time I spent a little time every weekend making hummus and homemade pita.  (How did I never post about that?)  With my schedule lately, pita is a bit ambitious, especially with getting my organic garden off (or for a better word IN) the ground, so here's a quick post with a quick recipe for some fresh, homemade awesomeness.

Below is my simple, tried and true hummus recipe; put everything in the food processor and hit go.  What you do with it is up to you, I urge everyone to be creative, be thoughtful and be adventurous!

  • 16 oz cooked garbanzo beans with half the liquid

NOTE: I use 1 can of S&W Organic garbanzo beans for my hummus and hold all the liquid to add a bit at a time at the end to get the right consistency.  Sometimes it needs a lot, sometimes it doesn't need any.

  • 4 TBSP lemon juice
  • 2 TBSP sesame tahini
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • salt & pepper


Whir it up in a blender or food processor.  I usually do the garlic, tahini and lemon juice first and then add everything else because I like a little texture left in my beans.  Also, from experience I recommend NOT using a Bullet.  It does not like hummus.

Here are a couple variations I put together today for my inaugural Spring Hummus:

Organic Roasted Red Pepper


Roast one whole red bell pepper, rubbed with a little olive oil, at 375 for about 30-40 minutes.  Allow it to cool and remove the stem.  Add the whole thing, seeds, pulp and all, to the hummus.  Adjust the original recipe by:

  • Adding on extra garlic clove
  • Omitting any of the reserved garbanzo bean liquid
  • Reducing olive oil to 1/2 TBSP

Organic Cilantro, Onion & Lime

Adjust the original recipe by
  • Adding a handful of chopped cilantro
  • Adding about 1/4 cup of chopped white and/or green onion
  • Adding 1-2 TBSP lime juice to the lemon juice
  • Omitting any of the reserved garbanzo bean liquid

I recommend trying your hand at homemade pita, but in a pinch Stacy's Pita Chips will do!  Happy eating!