Hummus

~Amanda~

Hummus has become a hugely popular food in America over the past few years; you can pretty much find it in every grocery store and as an appetizer at most restaurants. After buying and eating hummus for many years, I finally decided that I wanted to learn how to make my own homemade hummus and was pleasantly surprised by how simple it is to make. I also love how much room you have to make your own varieties, and not to mention, you control every ingredient that goes into it, so it’s so much more nutritious and no preservatives are added.

The recipe posted here is for your basic hummus. It has the classic flavors of garlic, lemon juice, and tahini, but I like to take it up a notch by adding some cumin and cayenne as well. Those are two of my favorite spices and I feel like it takes the recipe to the next level. If you’re looking to make a flavored hummus, start with this basic recipe and then add in your favorite additions. Some of mine include sundried tomatoes and pine nuts, jalapenos and cilantro, or roasted red peppers. You can experiment with so many varieties of flavors to come up with your favorite combinations.

Because I am always so aware of the nutrition content of foods I eat, I naturally gravitate to hummus as a staple in my diet. Not only does it taste amazing, but it also has so many health benefits; it’s rich in protein and fiber, the iron content boosts energy levels, it can help lower cholesterol, it can reduce cancer risk…I could go on and on. Hummus can also act as a great substitute to some not so healthy foods such as mayonnaise on sandwiches, cream cheese on bagels, or as a healthy dip for vegetables or chips. No matter how you choose to eat it, take a gander at making your own homemade hummus and incorporate it into your daily diet (always in moderation of course, don’t eat more than a regular serving size of a couple tablespoons in one sitting), you won’t regret it!