Step by Step Easy Hummus Dip

Easy Hummus Dip with drained chickpeas, lemon juice, lemon zest,
fresh garlic, tahini, olive oil, salt & pepper.

Now that the summer season has finally arrived here in Alberta, like many of you, I've found myself attending various work functions, BBQs and visits with friends. One of my favourite things to bring is a flavourful, yet easy to made hummus dip. I've found that this hummus dip works great when you're trying to come up with meal ideas for a potluck or work function. 

Creamy hummus dip

Hummus Ingredients

• 1 can of chick peas drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup of tahini (tahini paste)
• Juice of 1 lemon & zest
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• sea salt to taste
• freshly ground pepper to taste

kitchen equipment needed: food processor or blender, strainer

Directions

1. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and then place into the food processor.
2. Zest the lemon, then set aside.
3. Juice the lemon.
4. Add the tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic cloves, olive oil, salt & pepper (to taste) to the chickpeas in the food processor.
5. Puree until it is smooth. It should look creamy.
6. Add more olive oil, salt & pepper as needed.

This hummus dip makes about 2 cups. Typically, I bring one cup to the function I'm attending and save the other cup at home in the fridge.

This hummus dip is super creamy and has a decent garlic flavour balanced with the lemon along with a hint of tahini. Tastes great along side home made pita chips (brushing olive oil on pita bread cut into wedges & baked) or if in a rush grab a bag of sea salt chips from the local store. Feel free to adjust the lemon, tahini or garlic amounts to your tastes.

Lastly, if you end up with leftover hummus dip use it to make baked hummus chicken! I will certainly blog about this the next time I make it, as it was a last minute inspiration (see below). Not only does baked hummus chicken tastes similar to baked chicken made with panko or bread crumbs, but it's gluten free! Pat dry the chicken, then slather on the hummus. Bake the hummus encrusted chicken at 375F for 30 minutes or until the juices run clear.

Gluten free oven roasted hummus crusted chicken