Super Light Chickpea Hummus

Chickpea hummus has become a favorite with many thanks to its widespread use as a vegetarian and vegan snack. However, this typical preparation of Arab cuisine is very well known in the Mediterranean and the rest of the Middle East.

The recipe is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt. Although the last word has not yet been said about it, there is a certainty that the word hummus means “chickpea” in Arabic.

It is usually served as a side or as an aperitif, hence it has become so easily popular. In general, it is enjoyed together with pita bread, although it is also delicious on toast of any type of bread or with some raw carrot sticks or other vegetables.

How to prepare a light chickpea hummus?

Despite the fact that this cream is, in itself, quite light, many people wonder how they can prepare a lighter version. The aim is, of course, to reduce the amount of ingredients that have the potential to promote body weight gain without neglecting the good taste. Take aim!

Ingredients (for 3 or 4 people)

• The juice of half a lemon
• 1 teaspoon of salt (5 g)
• ¼ cup of warm water (50 ml)
• 2 tablespoons of tahini (30 g)
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Olive oil (the necessary amount).
• 2 ½ cups of cooked chickpeas (500 g)
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin (5 g)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (30 ml)
• To garnish: chopped parsley or powdered sweet pepper
• Optional seasonings: caraway, coriander

Preparation

• To make the recipe light, the first thing we have to do is take the cooked chickpeas and pour them into a bowl with warm water. It is important that the water covers them completely. We let the chickpeas rest in the water for at least 1 hour so that the skin falls off.
• Once this time has elapsed, we proceed to prepare the hummus. To do this, we strain the chickpeas to separate them from the skin that has come off and discard almost all the water (except for a little).

• Next, we proceed to crush the chickpeas with the help of a hand mixer.
• Besides, we crush the fresh garlic cloves well.
• Squeeze half a lemon and add the juice to the chickpeas. Be careful, the lemon should not be too big.
• Next, we incorporate all the ingredients in the bowl and beat again, at medium speed, while adding just a little olive oil.
• Once ready, we check how the flavor has remained and correct the seasoning, if necessary. We decorate and serve.

How to prepare the tahini?

Ingredients

• 1 pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons of sesame (30 g)
• 1 tablespoon of water (15 ml)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil (15 ml)

Preparation

• First, we rinse the sesame in plenty of water. It is very important that we drain it well later.

• In case it is not toasted, it will be necessary to take it to toast in a hot pan over high heat. (It is necessary to roast the seeds for the flavor to be more intense).
• Later, we place the seeds in a bowl and then add the olive oil, water and a pinch of salt. We proceed to beat everything.
• Finally, we repeat this procedure until the seeds have turned into a kind of soft paste.

The secret of this preparation is in the moderate use of olive oil. It is necessary not to overdo it with the use of the oil, or else, we could get a mixture that is too thick and without body. 

Once the chickpea hummus is prepared, it must be kept in a refrigerated place for up to 3 days.

A hot variant can be made with 2-3 tablespoons of powdered hot pepper or cayenne. There are those who even add a pinch of black pepper to reinforce the flavor, however, this will completely depend on our preferences and the result we want to obtain.

Chickpea hummus provides an excellent excuse to have a healthy and delicious snack at any time of the day, in moderation.

It is worth preparing it at home so that we can have it whenever we want. And, with practice, we can make our recipe better than any other.