Never had hummus. Never seen hummus in any store here in Japan but I expect imported food stores will have it. For a price. But it’s worth investigating, if only to try it once.
Very easy to make if you are planted in one spot with a real kitchen.
2 cups cooked chickpeas
3 garlic cloves
1 lemon, juiced (1/3 cup)
1 tbsp. tahini
olive oil, as needed
salt or soy sauce, as needed
Optional - Top with za’atar when serving
1. Place all in food processor bowl fitted with metal blade, and run until smooth. Adjust seasonings, add a little water or oil if too thick.
2. Can also be done in blender, but food processor does a better job faster.
3. No electricity? Place the cooked chickpeas in a large ziplock bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible, and seal the bag. Smash the the chickpeas - rolling pin? Anything to pulverize them as much as possible. In a mixing bowl, whisk the other ingredients together until smooth. Add smashed chick peas. Use a potato masher if needed. Will taste OK, but the grainier texture takes getting used to.
I got this recipe from a friend whose lebanese granny made it this way. The tahini, lemon, and garlic are what make it hummus rather than bean dip, IMO. If you can't find chickpeas, you can use black beans.
Or you could just use your favorite bean dip. Not a thing wrong with that.
You COULD experiment with soy beans. Never done it myself, but I don't see why not.
You can also buy chickpea flour online. It's just dehydrated, pulverized chickpeas. I intend to experiment with that someday. Because while there are a couple of good brands of hummus, it absolutely tastes better when you make it from scratch. I think it's the fresh lemon juice.
