Resolution Recap 2012: Appetizers Part 2

So the next two appetizer recipes are hummus themed.  Brad is a big fan of hummus but I'm not.  Meaning I can take or leave it but I won't be the one standing over a bowl of it at a party. But I love guacamole so when I ran across a recipe for guacamole hummus in Martha Stewart magazine I decided to give making hummus a try.  Brad hates cilantro so I subbed some fresh flat leaf parsley instead the first time I made it but have omitted even that in repeat servings. 

Guacamole Hummus**
(Serves: 8)

• 1 can (15.5 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 3 cups fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 ripe avocado, roughly chopped
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• Lemon wedges

 

In a food processor, combine chickpeas, cilantro, garlic, and avocado. Process until finely chopped. With machine running, add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, then add lemon juice, and then add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with lemon wedges and tortilla chips.

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After making the above I ran across a good deal on chickpeas and stocked up.  However, finding good avocado isn't always easy so I decided to try a classic hummus recipe instead.  This one from Ina Garten is not for those who do not like garlic.  Brad rates this as well as the previous recipe as "yums".

Hummus**

• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste)
• 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• 2 tablespoons water or liquid from the chickpeas
• 8 dashes hot sauce

 

Turn on the food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop the garlic down the feed tube; process until it's minced. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste, for seasoning, and serve chilled or at room temperature.
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Some sort of decent food processor is needed to make both these recipes. I managed to make both on separate occasions in a mini food chopper in batches but nearly burned the motor up doing this. I did finally get a more powerful mini food processor and making these hummus recipes is now easy peasy and the texture is really nice when they are really processed smooth.