International Hummus Day - Keep calm and eat hummus

Keep calm and eat hummus

It's International Hummus Day on 13th May - an annual celebration of one of the healthiest little plates of goodness you could hope to find. If you have been to any of the countries bordering the eastern crescent shape of the Mediterranean, you may think that hummus is just a beige stodge - far from it. 

Hummus is really healthy, there's no two ways about it, especially if you make it at home. Not surprisingly, how can a dish that is made up of chickpeas, sesame paste (tahini), garlic, and olive oil not be healthy?

You have most likely had hummus with pitta bread. But, hummus can also be a great substitute for unhealthy food. Use it as a spread in your sandwich, dilute it with water and it becomes a salad dressing, or just spread it on fish before you bake it.

Now let's make hummus 

The basic hummus

You'll need:

• 1 can chickpeas (400g), reserving half the liquid
• 4 tbsp of lemon juice
• 2 tbsp tahini
• 2 cloves of garlic (grated)
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp of olive oil

Here's how:

Pour chickpeas into blender (with half their water), reserving about a tablespoon for garnish. Place lemon juice, tahini, garlic and a little salt in blender.

Blend until everything is creamy and well mixed. Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl. Sprinkle with pepper and pour olive oil over the top.

Garnish with reserved chickpeas.

To the example here, we have added one tablespoon of Stokes Creamed Horseradish Sauce to run a gently warming smile though the hummus.

Cheats hummus 'made better'...

Supermarkets and delicatessens up and down the country have some really good basic hummus pots ready to go. For a drinks party or BBQ accompaniment, you can so easily turn beige to beautiful with a little help from Stokes.

... just add taste:

Test your taste buds during the blending stage by adding a hint or a heap of a Stokes relish or preserve to the basic hummus ingredients. Start with a little because you can always add later. (The fig relish in the hummus is amazing by the way!)


Beetroot Hummus

For colour and flavour this stands out on a table of hummus selections - the perfect centrepiece.

For a hummus that's truly eye-catching, add roasted beets, 2 tbsp of Stokes Beetroot Relish, feta and dill to homemade or store-bought classic hummus to brighten both the flavor and colour.

Our beetroot relish is textured with abundant juliennes of beetroot which are cooked in claret to tenderise the rich, ruby shards and intensify their earthy flavour.


Red Pepper & Chilli Hummus

This is absolutely delicious and puts a whole new hummmm into hummus. 

To the basic hummus ingredients you will need to add a jar of roasted red peppers (drained) and two tablespoons of Stokes Chilli Jam.

Here's how:

In a blender or food processor, blitz the chickpeas, red peppers, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, cumin, chilli jam and salt.

Process using long pulses until the mixture is fairly smooth, and slightly fluffy.

More foodie thoughts for the week:





Gluten free baking for Coeliac Awareness Week here.











May Day is BBQ Day - gather ye round here.










We win, you win, everyone's a winner here.

If good food makes you happy
...adding Stokes will make you smile ;)

 FOOD MADE BETTER 

www.stokessauces.co.uk

01394 462150