Extra Creamy Hummus

Ingredients:

1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ cup lemon juice (from 1 ½ to 2 lemons), more to taste

2 to 3 medium-to-large clove garlic, roughly chopped

½ teaspoon fine sea salt, to taste

½ cup tahini

2 to 4 tablespoons ice water, more as needed

½ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil more to taste

Place the chickpeas in a medium saucepan and add the baking soda. Cover the chickpeas by several inches of water, then bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Continue boiling, reducing heat if necessary to prevent overflow, for about 20 minutes, or until the chickpeas look bloated, their skins are falling off, and they’re quite soft.  Drain the chickpeas and run cool water over them for about 30 seconds. Set aside (no need to peel the chickpeas for this recipe!).

Meanwhile, in a food processor combine the lemon juice, garlic and salt. Process until the garlic is very finely chopped, then let the mixture rest so the garlic flavor can mellow, ideally 10 minutes or longer.

Add the tahini to the food processor and blend until the mixture is thick and creamy, stopping to scrape down any tahini stuck to the sides and bottom of the processor as necessary.

While running the food processor, drizzle in 2 tablespoons ice water. Scrape down the food processor, and blend until the mixture is ultra smooth, pale and creamy. (If your tahini was extra-thick to begin with, you might need to add 1 to 2 tablespoons more ice water.)

Add the cumin and the drained, over-cooked chickpeas to the food processor. While blending, drizzle in the olive oil. Blend until the mixture is super smooth, scraping down the sides of the processor as necessary, about 2 minutes. Add more ice water by the tablespoon if necessary to achieve a super creamy texture.

Taste, and adjust as necessary—I almost always add more salt, lemon juice and olive oil.

Scrape the hummus into a serving bowl or platter, and use a spoon to create nice swooshes on top. Top with additional olive oil and your choice of toppings.

Optional toppings:

Sesame seeds

Zaatar

Diced roasted red peppers

Chopped olives