Nothing frustrates me more than seeing the price of hummus in the grocery stores. For the price you pay for the ready to eat varieties, you can have four times the amount (and more flavor) if you make it yourself! This is when the food processor becomes your best friend. Keep it hand and accessible and I guarantee you will use it for much more than chopping and pulsing.
This recipe is very versatile and always makes a great alternative for the folks who are watching their waistline. I will cover some basic variations at the end, but here is the bare bones recipe!
Ingredients:
-1 16 oz can of white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
-1 garlic clove, minced (about 1 Tablespoon from the jar) * Can be omitted!
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon hot sauce
-1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
-1/2 teaspoon of salt
Directions
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the ingredients and pulse until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with chopped chives.
Variations: Fold in any of the following after you have put together the basic recipe…
-Chopped roasted red peppers
-Chopped sun-dried tomatoes in oil
-Chopped black or green olives
??? What would you throw in to make it your own?
Serve with crisp carrot sticks or toasted pita triangles. I have been known to eat it with a spoon from time to time 
Enjoy!
Make it Gift: Make three different varieties and take to your next party on a beautiful chip and dip tray. One that has three dividers would be ideal like this one I just found online…
Lenox 16-in. Tuscany Classic Serving Tray With Bowls
Enjoy and happy sharing!
