Spicy beet hummus made at residence

Does your spouse and children delight in hummus, the Center East unfold or dip traditionally geared up with mashed chickpeas, lemon, garlic and sesame seeds or oil?  Our tribe has often eaten large portions of the addictive combination, normally on toasted pita wedges or chips, or as a dip for crunchy, backyard veggies.

Simply because hummus is a supply of iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and complex carbohydrates, the savory mixture is occasionally referred to as the “Queen of Aphrodisacs.” CHERYL WIXSON Picture

Foods historians have several theories about the dates and origin of hummus. The earliest written recipe was recorded in Cairo in the 13th century.  Currently, the product or service is normally mass-manufactured and extensively readily available, with quite a few versions, in the supermarket.

A staple of vegan and vegetarian cuisines, hummus is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with protein and nutritional vitamins.  For the reason that hummus is a resource of iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and advanced carbs, the savory combination is often referred to as the “Queen of Aphrodisacs.”

Regardless of the gains to one’s health, there is even now a whole lot to love about this peasant-impressed dish. Distribute on sandwiches rather of mayonnaise, heat for breakfast over toast, rolled up in steamed cabbage leaves, or as a sauce for meats and fish, hummus shines.  Recipes abound for numerous variants, as many as there are imaginative cooks!

In the recipe for Spicy Beet Hummus, cooked beets add a nice pink color to the unfold. The heat and spice comes from a jalapeno pepper.  Require a lot more kick?  Add extra fresh jalapeno, or chili pepper flakes.  Maine maple syrup mellows the zing, even though the white vinegar supplies a nice balance for the flavors.

Usually, hummus was geared up with a mortar and pestle, making a chunky texture.  I want the smoothness designed with a blender or food processor, plus the cleanup is so significantly simpler.

Spicy Beet Hummus is a standard menu item this summer time for our visiting friends and families.  Fresh new beets and garlic from the backyard, herbs and edible flowers, newborn carrots, sugar snap peas, and crunchy cucumbers create a putting, visual function of artwork, and a nutritious, tasty treat.

Cheryl Wixson life and cooks in Stonington. She welcomes meals-similar responses and queries at [email protected]

Spicy Beet Hummus

This delicious distribute is a snap to make in the bowl

of your blender or meals processor.

1/3-cup olive oil

2 tablespoons Maine maple syrup

Juice and zest of 1 lemon  (or 3 tablespoons lemon juice)

¼ cup sesame tahini

¼ cup white vinegar

1 massive beet (about 1 cup) cooked beets

1 -14 ounce can chickpeas, drained

1 -garlic clove

1- jalapeno pepper, seeded and quartered (use gloves!)

Sea salt and fresh new pepper to taste

Assemble elements and tools.

Cook dinner the beets in a pot of h2o on top rated of the stove until fork tender.  Rinse them with cold drinking water and slip off the skins.  Set apart.Carrying gloves, cut the jalapeno pepper in fifty percent, take away the seeds, and quarter the pepper.  Set apart.

In the bowl of your blender or foodstuff processor, insert the olive oil, Maine maple syrup, lemon juice, sesame tahini, white vinegar, garlic clove, jalapeno pepper and beets.

Gradually commence to puree the mixture, and then raise the speed to large and puree until sleek, about 1 moment.  Taste and time with sea salt and contemporary pepper.  If a “hotter” hummus is wanted, add some chili pepper flakes.

Helps make about 1-½ cups.

Nutritional investigation for every 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) serving:  80 calories, 2 grams protein, 7 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fats, 80 mg. sodium, much less than 1 gram fiber.

“Maine Dish” columnist Cheryl Wixson life and cooks in Stonington. Her passion for organic Maine merchandise led to the generation of her company, Cheryl Wixson’s Kitchen area. She welcomes food-connected issues and comments at [email protected] or www.cherylwixsonskitchen.com.