How do you Hummus?

I usually take the shortcut of using canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed.  From there, I'm pretty pure, adding garlic, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, salt and a little hot sauce so I don't need to use as much salt.

Sometimes I'll add some roasted peppers. Or olives.

When I do a traditional style, I pretty much do the same as phatch except that I use cayenne instead of hot sauce and additionally I add cumin. For a non traditional take, I make a date hummus.

yeah kk, what they said plus i add parsley....

sometimes i make a black bean hummus too in which i add some chipotles in adobo and cumin...sometimes i make it with white beans instead of chick peas, but then it's probaly not called hummus then either!

joey

Never been really adventurous with my hummus, I just like to use dried chick peas, soak overnight and cook in the pressure cooker, and process for enough time so it is as smooth as possible (the Lebanese restaurant around here gets their hummus very, very smooth, I'll have to ask them how). Then all the classics: tahini, lemon, garlic, S & P. 

When ready to serve I mix a bit of olive oil with a little sweet paprika. I form a little hole in the center of the hummus dish and make a little pool of that red oil. 

My current method is to soak a pound of dried chickpeas for at least 8 hours and the soaking liquid is seasoned with salt and ground cumin.  I pressure cook for about 18 min with natural cool down.  This give me well cooked beans that are soft but not falling apart.  I add the juice of 3-4 lemons as well as some zest, a half a cup of tahini, 2-3 large garlic cloves mashed with salt to form a paste.  First I blend in a BlendTec or Vitamix, the garlic, lemon juice and tahini to emulsify and then add the chickpeas and cooking liquid until I get the consistency I want.  I season with fresh ground cumin and red pepper flakes and continue blending.  Since I know it will firm up after refrigeration I aim for a little looser than I would want in the final product.  The final product is checked for taste and correction made as needed.  I like my hummus a bit tart, I like cumin in it as that's the way I grew up eating it. 

In my quest to get a smooth hummus I've tried many techniques as well as removing skins.  With high powered blenders skins are no issue.  I get ultra smooth hummus if blended well in a Blendtec or Vitamix

Hummus, a common Mezze ( small plate ) in the Mediterranean has uncountable variations from country to country. I make this one for lunch quite often and serve with Kalamata olives and oven hot Pita bread.

Serves 6 to 8 :  ( Note: cumin is used in the Moroccan and North African countries however, rarely used in Greece, Turkey, Jordan or Lebanon ). Cumin is optional, however, if you use it, use it very sparingly )

225 grams dry chickpeas ( garbanzos ) soaked in water & salt overnight

the juice of 2 fresh lemons

150 ml. tahine

2 or 3 cloves of garlic ( not roasted ) pounded in a Mortar with pestle

4tblsps. extra virgin Greek or Turkish olive oil ( if unavailable: Use 100% Hojiblanca Spanish Mono Varietal - very delicate )

Smoked Paprika = pimentón dulce from Spain if possible

Salt and freshly ground blk pepper

1) simmer the chickpeas 2 hours until tender however, not overly soft and mushy

2) strain beans & reserve the beans stock liquid

3) blend the beans with a little of the bean stock liquid until it becomes a consistent thick pureé

4) squeeze the lemons and drop by drop put into the hummus dip mixture

5) place the hummus in a bowl or plate and refrigerate for 2 or 3 hrs.

6) take the hummus out of refrigerator and mix the rest of the ingredients with the hummus dip and mix until there are no lumps

7) sprinkle the smoked paprika on top and add a bit of olive oil and finely minced parsley or Spearmint leaf for garnish and serve with olives ( kalamata ) in separate dish and cherry tomatoes and crudities if u wish   

8) serve with hot pita and a good glass of Santorini White Greek Wine or a fragrant Albariño from Spain or a Prosecco from Veneto or Friuli, Italia

For those who  need to know what Tahine is  It comes already made in a jar and is available in some spermarkets and specialty shops it is a sesamee paste of soughts. You could make your own but doesn't pay. One brand name is Anthros another Roland & Athos there are more.

PS

You can save time and steps by purchasing already canned and cooked Garbanzo or chick peas ,It's hard to tell difference of finished product with all that garlic and seasonings.

Pretty pure here, too.

chickpeas (canned or fresh, I do both depending upon what I have) tahini, lemon, garlic, Olive oil parsley.  But I always add cumin and I don't like it without cumin.  To me, it is like having pasta with no trace of garlic in/on anything.   Has to have cumin.

I have not been adding paprika, Margcata.  I think I will try that since I like it in most things.

Now that we've settled that, I'm looking for a really great Greek kibbe recipe. I've had both raw and cooked, and I like both.  Anybody got one????

Donna

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyGal 

Pretty pure here, too.

chickpeas (canned or fresh, I do both depending upon what I have) tahini, lemon, garlic, Olive oil parsley.  But I always add cumin and I don't like it without cumin.  To me, it is like having pasta with no trace of garlic in/on anything.   Has to have cumin.

 

I have not been adding paprika, Margcata.  I think I will try that since I like it in most things.

 

Now that we've settled that, I'm looking for a really great Greek kibbe recipe. I've had both raw and cooked, and I like both.  Anybody got one????

Donna

Like these?  Never had Greek Kibbe.  I'm from a background of Halabian Jews or Jews from Aleppo so the the ingredients may vary from what some consider standard.  These fried kibbeh do not have meat in the shell like traditional Syrian or Lebanese kibbeh do. Meat in the stuffing for sure.   We use tomato in our kibbeh neyeh.

Kibbe is more of a traditional semitic food. Ground lamb, seasonings and such. There are raw and cooked versions.

I have to admit, it's something that I've not made or even tried as it seems like  more work than reward. It has a lot of cultural impact though, sort of a comfort/soul food so I probably lack the background to appreciate it properly.

that just makes my mouth water.  Any chance you would share some family recipes?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubadoo97 

Like these?  Never had Greek Kibbe.  I'm from a background of Halabian Jews or Jews from Aleppo so the the ingredients may vary from what some consider standard.  These fried kibbeh do not have meat in the shell like traditional Syrian or Lebanese kibbeh do. Meat in the stuffing for sure.   We use tomato in our kibbeh neyeh.

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koukouvagia 

 

I've never put parsley in my hummus, never seen it either.  Is this a norm?

 

I've never heard of a kibbe, much less a greek kibbe. 
 

 

what can i say kk? call me a maverick!

joey

Scubadoo97, Oh yeah!

Those look great!   I'm with tigerwoman, can you please share the recipes?

I only said "Greek Kibbe" because I've only had it at Greek restaurants.

So good drizzled with some EVOO on toasted pita points.

Donna

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerwoman 

that just makes my mouth water.  Any chance you would share some family recipes?
 

 

I must say they look good too.

@ KK : The original recipe calls for tahini but  if you don't have tahini you can use peanut butter. Has anyone ever tried this ? I had to add it when I ran out of tahini once and it had a very nice flavor.

Petals.

@ Petals,

Olive oil and the chickpeas, shall form a homogenous pureé dip, even without the Tahine ( sesame ). However, peanut butter, wouldn´t  this create a sweetness atypical to a hummus ?

Margcata.

@ Indygal, Donna,

Yes, a tiny pinch of cumin is nice too ... just do not enjoy an overpowering amount of cumin -- a lite aroma of it, yes.

Also, I make a dent in the centre to place the olive oil, extra virgin and I sprinkle the smoked paprika on the top with a very lite sprinkling of the fresh minced parsley.

I serve it with black Kalamata olives and Machadas which are a broken large dark deep olive green olive from Ciudad Real, in Castilla La Mancha - Spain and some cherry tomatoes with hot Pita.

I enjoy for a laboral lunch and / or company mezze = appetiser. I have also made Cannelli white bean hummus or rather dip and my dear Cuban friend had given me her black turtle bean one with diced avocado, red onion and fresh corn kernels and instead of cumin, she uses Coriander or " Cilantro herb " very common in Latin American grocers, and place it minced as well as in the dip itself  ... nice too with Corn chips for dipping.

Margcata.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyGal 

Scubadoo97, Oh yeah!

 

Those look great!   I'm with tigerwoman, can you please share the recipes?

 

Donna

 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerwoman 

that just makes my mouth water.  Any chance you would share some family recipes?
 

 

 

For the Kibbeh Nayeh (raw kibbeh)

1 cup of extra fine bulgur  Grade #1

1 small onion chopped fine

1 lb of extra lean ground beef.  I use top sirloin and clean it well and grind it twice through a fine plate.  Some use lamb some use beef or mixture

8 oz canned tomatoes, chopped with juice

1 1/2 tsp of fresh ground cumin

1/2 tsp table salt

crushed red pepper flakes to taste

Chopped parsley (optional)

EVOO

In a  large mixing bowl knead bulgur, onions, tomatoes, and spices together.  Add ground beef and knead well as if washing cloths on a wash board.  Today the food processor can make this a breeze.   Form into torpedo shape for individual kibbeh or in a mound and indent the top and pour EVOO into the indention.  Here is a place to use really good tasting evoo.

Serve with pita

Some like to soak the bulgur in water for 30 min first to soften then squeeze out the water before mixing the other ingredients.  The tomato juice will hydrate the bulgur and will add flavor.  Just know it take about 30+ min for the bulgur to soften.

For a vegetarian kibbeh nayeh called kibbeh ades you can use cooked red lentils instead of meat.  Works well and has a similar taste.

Fried Kibbeh (torpedoes)

We do these with a shell  that is made from flour and extra fine bulgur.  Most fried kibbeh is made with the same meat/bulgur mixture which is kibbeh.  The insides are stuffed with a mixture of spiced ground meat and onions.  Often pine nuts or pomegranate seeds are mixed with the meat prior to stuffing.  The more common meat/bulgur shell is easier to work with and less likely to crack when forming so I'll start with this one.  Getting the right texture is key to forming a good kibbeh.  They goal is to get the shell as thin as possible without breaking.  Easier said than done.

Filling

The filling for the kibbeh is ground beef, or lamb or both.  I use chuck. 

3 lbs of ground beef

3 large onions chopped fine

1-2 tsp baharat spice

Pine nuts or pomegranate seeds  (optional)

Chop the onions and sweat before adding the meat.  Cook slowly until the meat becomes dry and crumbly.  It should not have any liquid when you're done.  The onions should have disappeared as well giving the meat some sweetness.  This is a lot of filling and if you have left overs it's wonderful with some hummus as a side dish or make a mound of hummus and fill the center with this meat mixture.

Since this take a while do this first before mixing the shell

The standard mix for the shell is 1: .5 extra fine bulgur to ground meat.  1 cup bulgur to 1/2  pound of meat.  Again the meat should be extra lean and ground twice 

The kibbeh shell mixture can be seasoned with a little salt and we use cumin.   This is a case where soaking the bulgur is needed before mixing with the meat.  I find equal amounts of bulgur to water work well to hydrate.  I also just put the bulgur in a bowl and add water to just cover.  Cover and walk away.  About 30 min later it's pretty hydrated and feels somewhat dry to the touch.

Mix the meat and bulgur along with some cumin and salt to form the dough.   It's best to work with a small cup of water to which a few drops of oil have been added to wet your hands with while forming the shell.

I found this video on YouTube which shows a women making the shell and filling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMcnhTGWnEk&feature=relmfu

It is traditional to make them into torpedo shapes but you will often find them as balls.  The thinner the shell the more skilled the cook.  

We make them and line a tray with parchment or wax paper and then freeze for later use.  You can certainly cook them directly. 

Well Margcata,

All I can tell you is that it had a terrifc taste and it came out great. I would not hesitate for a second to make it again. I added more lemon thats all.

Petals.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARGCATA 

 

@ Petals,

 

Olive oil and the chickpeas, shall form a homogenous pureé dip, even without the Tahine ( sesame ). However, peanut butter, wouldn´t  this create a sweetness atypical to a hummus ?

 

Margcata.

The peanut butter to me is very similar in flavor to toasted sesame paste. Many grocers sell toasted sesame butter alongside the organic peanutbutter, usually next to the tahini in my local grocer as well.

I don't like it in my hummus but my friends thought it tasted fine the time I tried it.

The Chinese use toasted sesame paste in their cuisine. For me, this particular fusion of China to Med flavors doesn't work.

It's quite curious to me as well how China uses sesame so differently from the Med regions and olives too.

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alzein 

Hi French Fries,

 

I don't work in the Lebanese Resto around ur place, but I'm Lebanese :)

Hey Jad, thanks a lot for your comments. I will try peeling the chick peas next time. I will also try cooking them for a longer time. 

Also Scubadoo, thanks a LOT for the Kibbeh recipes! Will print now and add to my books. I love fried kibbeh. Never tried it raw though. 

French Fries, some people add a little baking soda to the water when cooking chickpeas which softens them faster.  I find it's too easy to get a pasty texture if you add more than a pinch. 

As Alzein mentioned, removing skins will help you get a smooth texture or as I mentioned a high powered blender will get you a velvety texture with our without skins.  I've done the skin removal like alzein suggested before getting a Vitamix and yes they float to the surface when you run your hands through them but it's hard to get all of them unless you tackle them one by one.

Scubadoo, Thanks so much!   I will probably try that after my next trip to the grocery to pick up the meat.

Looks wonderful.

D

so today we prepped three kinds of hummous for a Large Fun Purim Event we have this Saturday where we get to do whatever we create.  It's really a cool holiday - the Jewish holiday where you are mandated to get drunk and have fun.  Sort of a cross between Mardi Gras, Halloween and Carnivale with costumes, beads, noisemakers, wine, food and of course hamantaschen - the triangular shaped fruit (usually) filled cookies.  

Roasted Beet Hummous - gorgeous vibrant color - added the usual suspects including some chickpeas for texture and lemon peel for extra flavor

Maple Curried Pumpkin Hummous - quite the departure -  it called for some peanut butter, pureed pumpkin and curry powder - we added Maple Agave for balance and a few spoons of peach jam (we were out of mango chutney)  - interesting but since I am not a pumpkin fan - not my favorite - I think people will like it though.

Traditional with Preserved Lemon - great flavor too.

Also made a fantastic Moroccan Chickpea Stew with Preserved Lemon, Peppers, Tomatoes, Cardamom, Cumin + a touch of Cinnamon.

and Yemenite Cardomom and Cumin Kissed Sweet Potato Knish Bytes.

We also created a s'mores hamantaschen this year with ganache and marshmallow fluff and used a different recipe for the dough that is more like rugelach dough with both butter and cream cheese!  Rolled and shaped over 400 of various flavors earlier in the week, frozen them and will bake off first thing on Saturday morning.  They could be baked ahead and stored but we really like the same day baking for these puppies.

Anyway, strayed from the hummous topic but wanted to share some fun menu items with all of you.