Fresh hummus is way better than any packaged version. And, all it takes to make really good homemade hummus is a little patience and a food processor. This version is light and creamy and achieves great flavor without the addition of oil. Serve with colorful vegetables or spread on a whole grain bread with onions, feta, and cucumbers for a hearty meal.

INGREDIENTS

• 1¼ cups dried chickpeas
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ⅓ cup tahini
• 5 cloves garlic
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ½ tsp. salt
• About a half cup of cold water
• Olive oil, feta, olives, or paprika for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS
Soak the chickpeas in a large bowl of water over night. The volume of water in the bowl should be about twice the volume of the chickpeas.

Drain the chickpeas and pour into a saucepan with the baking soda. Cook over high heat for three minutes, stirring frequently. Add water to the pan bring to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to cook until chickpeas are soft, about 20 to 40 minutes (depending on how long you soaked them). Drain the chickpeas.

Pour the chickpeas into a food processor. If your food processor has less than an eight-cup capacity, you will need to process in batches. Process the chickpeas, stopping occasionally to scrape down the edges and turn the paste with a rubber spatula. With the food processor turned off, add the tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Turn the food processor back on and slowly pour in most of the cold water. Continue to blend for at least three minutes, adding more water until the hummus reaches your preferred consistency.