Garam Masala Hummus? You may be asking…what is garam masala and why should I add it to my hummus? Garam Masala is a spice blend made by combining ground coriander, cumin, black pepper, ginger, clove, and cinnamon. Garam is an Sanskrit word for “hot” and Masala means” a blend of spices. When you add garam masala to hummus you are instantly elevating the health benefits of hummus. The spices used to make garam masala have been used for centuries for their medicinal and Ayurvedic qualities. In fact there is some documentation that states that the spices can help slow down the process of cellular aging, as well as promoting healthy weight and breakdown of excess fats.
Cooking dry chick peas instead of using the canned variety has made my hummus creamy and full of robust flavor. Don’t take the short cut of canned chickpeas! You can find dried chickpeas at Whole Foods. I buy my chickpeas in bulk at my local Indian grocery store. The store is 30 minutes away but totally worth the drive. Not only will you find every variety of chickpeas, they have so many items not found in chain stores, like fresh curry leaves and paneer.
This week I found Organic Meyer lemons at Costco for a fraction of the price advertised at Whole Foods. These are by far my favorite lemon. If you have a Meyer lemon tree in your yard, I envy you! Ok lets do this! Let make homemade Garam Masala hummus…it’s going to taste better than any store bought variety you’ve ever had.
- Healthy Homemade Hummus
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- ⅓ cup organic tahini
- Juice of 2 fresh lemons
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Garam Masala(or to taste)
- ¼ cup chickpea water(reserved when cooking the dry chickpeas)
- In a food processor add the garlic, tahini and lemon juice and process for 30 seconds. Add the cooked chickpeas and salt and process until smooth adding the chickpea water as needed. Add the olive oil and garam masala and pulse a few times. Eat immediately with pita and fresh veggies or refrigerate after the hummus gets to room temp. Hummus should stay fresh for 1 week.
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