Heavenly Healthy Hummus

Hummus. It goes with almost anything. It can become a whole meal if you add carrots or tortilla chips to the equation. It is loved by millions of people. Yet it is almost always bought and never homemade. I want that to stop.

Homemade hummus is so much more than the stuff you buy in supermarkets. It's creamier, it's got more flavour to it, there's more acidity, there's more of a punch of garlic. In fact, there's anything you want there to be because, when you make your own, the control is in your hands, the end result is totally up to you. On a health note, supermarket hummus is pumped with preservatives and colouring and who know's what else, as well as having almost no authenticity to the real thing!

I serve my hummus whenever I can. It goes down great at parties since people can keep going back for more and more. It's also great in a pitta with some chicken or salad for a light lunch. It also goes brilliantly with my Legendary Lamb Koftas!

Heavenly Healthy Hummus

200g/7oz canned chickpeas

2 tbsp lemon juice or more

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp ground cumin

Good pinch of salt

100ml/3½fl oz tahini (sesame seed paste) optional

4 tbsp water

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp paprika

Drain the chickpeas and rinse.

Combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, tahini, and water in a food processor, and blend to a creamy purée.

Add more lemon juice, garlic, cumin or salt to taste. Turn out into a dinner plate or a small terracotta pot, and make smooth with the back of a spoon. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with paprika.