If you know your way around Middle Eastern street food, there’s no way you haven’t fallen in love with hummus yet. But just in case you don’t know this lovely food up close: hummus is a super popular spread, typically made from cooked, mashed chickpeas mixed with tahini, lemon, garlic, and lemon juice. Its creamy texture and unique flavor make it a crowd favorite in the Middle East and worldwide, and it is usually wiped with a generous slice of pita bread.
The main problem is—other than the fact it’s downright addictive—the high amount of fat, carbs, and calories that hummus tends to contain. An average restaurant hummus plate is somewhere between 400 and 800 (!) kcal, and with a side of pita, this number can climb up to 1,000 or more. Long story short: You probably don’t want this as a regular guest in your day-to-day diet.
But you still feel like incorporating all this yumminess into your routine without compromising your health and physique, it’s still possible with the kind assistance of the simple home recipe below, containing roughly 160 kcal per 100 grams. Ready? Get your apron on, and let’s make some hummus.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
- 1/3 squeezed lemon
- 2 tablespoons raw tahini
- 3 cloves of minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Some salt and paprika
Instructions:
- Mash the cooked chickpeas in a food processor for five minutes, gradually adding the other ingredients.
- Then, taste to check the texture. If it’s too dry, you can add a bit of water and give it another quick blend in the food processor.
- Finally, season the hummus with salt and paprika, and eat.
