My experience with hummus is that it keeps longer than you want to eat it. By that I mean that it seems to pick up an off flavor from the fridge or from oxidation long before it goes "bad," so for me "as long as it tastes good" works pretty well for timing. To help it last longer, don't just cover the bowl with plastic wrap, but push the plastic wrap down until it touches the entire surface of the hummus. By removing all the air space, it stays fresh tasting longer and stays moist.
Tahini does add fat, but you don't have to add much. Some folks use peanut butter or a drop or two of sesame oil instead.
I make tons of bean pastes using other beans and other seasonings, and they're all good too. One that's sounds weird, but is really good is to buy a can of vegetarian baked beans or barbecued beans (you can use pork and beans, but you'll want to remove the fat cube). I pour off a little of the liquid, but don't drain and then whip in a food processor with a little onion, or dehydrated onion or onion powder. It's my standard "last minute invite to a pot luck" recipe. Then on the way to the pot luck, we'll pick up a bag of baked tortilla chips (I'm always asked for the recipe, and I always get really weird looks when I tell them what it is).
I peel the garbanzo beans. Tedious, but oh so worth it. Fresh lemon juice a must; tahini paste, tad of olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper, dash of paprika.
I did try using peanut butter when out of tahini and NO! I thin it down with a little of the garbanzo bean liquid. Wish I had some made up now.
Yeah hummus doesn't last long enough for me to know how long it lasts in the fridge.
I generally don't put tahini in mine most of hte time (although when you do, it definitely adds a richness). I do put lots of garlic in mine. Probably enough that you don't want to be near me after I eat it.
Oh, and I noticed you said you used garlic salt? Ditch that and use WHOLE GARLIC CLOVES. Seriously. There is no way that garlic salt is any kind of substitute for whole cloves. Even if you just use one instead of the 3 I usually use *grin* ... use fresh whole garlic. I promise you that will make a HUGE difference.
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Last edited by PhotoChick; 12-17-2008 at 10:42 PM.
Tahini is the same thing as peanut butter, but made with sesame seeds instead of peanuts. My sister picked me up a jar from a middle eastern store, but I'm sure some supermarkets have it. I've had it forever, and it hasn't gone bad.
My recipe:
1 can chickpeas, drained & rinsed
6T water
3T lemon juice
2T tahini
1T extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
pinch of cayenne
salt
For me, garlic really makes the difference. Have you tried roasting the garlic? It'll make the flavor more subtle. I rather my husband not come near me than skip out on garlic
Also I love tahini, its a good fat. You can find it in a lot of stores near the peanut butter. Trader Joes may have it as well.
I can also tell you Trader Joes uses real garlic cloves in theirs. And no store bought hummus can compare to good homemade hummus, at least I don't think so.
My experience with hummus is that it keeps longer than you want to eat it. By that I mean that it seems to pick up an off flavor from the fridge or from oxidation long before it goes "bad," so for me "as long as it tastes good" works pretty well for timing. To help it last longer, don't just cover the bowl with plastic wrap, but push the plastic wrap down until it touches the entire surface of the hummus. By removing all the air space, it stays fresh tasting longer and stays moist.
Tahini does add fat, but you don't have to add much. Some folks use peanut butter or a drop or two of sesame oil instead.
I make tons of bean pastes using other beans and other seasonings, and they're all good too. One that's sounds weird, but is really good is to buy a can of vegetarian baked beans or barbecued beans (you can use pork and beans, but you'll want to remove the fat cube). I pour off a little of the liquid, but don't drain and then whip in a food processor with a little onion, or dehydrated onion or onion powder. It's my standard "last minute invite to a pot luck" recipe. Then on the way to the pot luck, we'll pick up a bag of baked tortilla chips (I'm always asked for the recipe, and I always get really weird looks when I tell them what it is).
Yes, I have been whipping up creations of my own. I will do something similar to your recipe only I wash my beans in a strainer and pat them dry. After putting everything through the processor, I dredge it in the tiniest bit of flour and fry it w/nonfat cooking spray. It has really proven to be a low cost and tasty alternative to all the meat I was eating. For my hubby, I place his patty onto a bun with all the fixings. I go bunless and just focus on the yummy fixings.
Last edited by Thighs Be Gone; 12-18-2008 at 03:14 PM.
hmmmmm...where do you buy tahini? Does it add alot more fat?
My Trader Joe's sells it. It comes in a tub and is in the section as the hummus (actually on the same shelf, just a few shelves down). Otherwise, it can be a little hard to find. If you have any middle eastern grocery stores, they will most certainly carry it.
You can make your own by toasting sesame seeds until they are lightly browned, then running them through a food processor with a little olive oil until they form a paste.