Pizza Hummus

I love playing with my food.  And I love coming up with or trying new versions of Hummus.

I know I can buy hummus and the Sabra brand is good, but there is just something about making it myself that, well, gee, makes me get out the food processor and go to town.

I'm a member of the Secret Recipe Club and a year or two ago I had The Bitchin' Kitchen as an assignment.  Ellie made the big leap and got her own blog, The Hobo Kitchen and transferred her recipes over to that.    I made some Johnny Cake for my post that month for the Secret Recipe Club, but I'd also bookmarked a few more recipes I wanted to try.    One of which was this Pizza Hummus.

So, since I've been craving Hummus, again, I decided to make me some.   And even better, I had all the ingredients in house.

I love it when that happens.

I do 'peel' my chickpeas, cause I like the texture better in my hummus, but feel free to leave them on there.  And I used fresh oregano for this, cause I could.
 Heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium-high heat.   Add the tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes and one garlic clove and saute for about a minute or so. 

Remove from heat.

Place the (peeled) chickpeas, the other garlic, tahini, and lemon juice into the food processor.

Process until smooth, adding the reserved chickpea liquid if needed. (forget to add the other garlic clove, but it tasted just fine)
Ellie also added salt and cayenne pepper but I choose not to do so. I used some Red Pepper flakes and added them to the pan)
Serve with Pita if you have it, or do like me, just crisp up some Naan, and eat it together.

I had to keep taking pictures, it looked so pretty, especially with the fresh oregano on it.

And I ate it all gone...

It was so good.  I'm so going to make this again, and next time, I'll even share it.
maybe.
I wonder how it would taste with some breadsticks?
Or pita or on some veggies, or...

Yield: 6 + servingsAuthor: Sid's Sea Palm Cooking (adapted from The Bitchin' Kitchen)

Pizza Hummus

prep time: 10 MINScook time: 10 MINStotal time: 20 mins

This Hummus is amazing, it tastes like Pizza, and is so good on toasted Naan, or Pita or even a Pizza crust.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup tomato paste (I always have a tube in the fridge)
• 1 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped fine
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 2 large cloves garlic, chopped or grated on a Microplane
• 1 15 oz. can Chickpeas, drained, reserving 1/2 cup of liquid
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes, crushed a little more.
• 1/2 -1 tsp. salt (optional I didn't use any)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium-high heat. Add the tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes and one garlic clove and saute for about a minute or so. Place the (peeled) chickpeas, the other garlic, tahini, and lemon juice into the food processor. Process until smooth, adding the reserved chickpea liquid if needed. Serve with toasted Pita Bread, or Naan or even a pizza crust.
2. BTW: Did you know you can freeze fresh lemon juice and just keep it on hand in the freezer and add the frozen cube of juice into the food processor when processing the chickpeas. 

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