I’m always on the lookout for party snacks that are fast and easy to make, healthy and taste delicious.

And hummus is all of the above. I simply fell in love with it at first bite… the texture, the spices, the smell…mmm…

Serve it with crackers, vegetables, pita bread, as an hors d’oeuvre, in a wrap… really, however, your heart desires.

You can cheat and buy it at a store, but I can guarantee it won’t taste the same as the homemade one.

The one that was made with love and care.

So let’s talk ingredients…

Hummus’ main ingredient is garbanzo beans (chickpeas). They are an excellent source of molybdenum, a trace mineral needed for the body to detoxify sulphites (great news for wine drinkers as sulphites are commonly used as preservative in wines). On top of that, these little beans can help lower your cholesterol, improve blood sugar levels and are a good source of protein and fiber.

I don’t think I knew what tahini paste was until I made my first hummus. It’s prepared from ground, hulled sesame seeds and is usually found in the organic section of the food store (unless you make it yourself 🙂 ). Did you know that sesame seeds have been grown since prehistoric times? And so has garlic.

If you’re not a big fan of garlic’s odour, parsley helps to tone it down thanks to its high chlorophyll content.

And let me tell you about cumin! Apparently, during the Middle Ages in Europe, it was thought to possess power to stop a spouse from going astray. This belief resulted in guests carrying cumin in their pockets at the weddings. I wonder if anybody still adheres to this tradition…

I’ve listed other ingredients and the amounts on the recipe card below for easy pinning. This would yield approximately 2 cups of the spread.

Purée the ingredients in the food processor until smooth and garnish with a sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds or pine nuts and a drizzle of olive oil.

You can also add roasted red bell pepper, roasted garlic or caramelized onion for a twist.

Bon Appétit!