I try to have hummus and raw veggies in the fridge most of the time to keep us from “snacking” on things like cupcakes and cookies instead of something nutritious. I absolutely love classic hummus, but I’m always interested in variations as well. When I saw a version of cilantro jalapeno hummus on another blog I thought it sounded like something I definitely wanted to try, but I also don’t like to mess too much with a good thing. I decided to just use my usual hummus recipe as the base and simply throw in a handful of cilantro and a jalapeno. It worked out very well, and we really enjoyed this variation. The jalapeno did not come through quite as much as I expected, so if you are a fan of heat and would like that flavor emphasized further, I would recommend using two jalapenos instead of one. I will definitely use two next time.
Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
Ingredients:
1/3-1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1-2 jalapeno peppers, ribbed and seeded (depending on desired flavor)
1 clove garlic, peeled
3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup water
6 tbsp. tahini
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 (14 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions:
Combine the cilantro, jalapenos, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients have been finely minced. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice and water. In another bowl, whisk together the tahini and olive oil. Set aside. Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl and add the chickpeas, salt, cumin and cayenne. Process until almost fully ground, about 15 seconds. Scrape down the bowl. With the machine running add the lemon juice-water mixture in a steady stream through the feed tube. Scrape down the bowl and continue to process for one minute. With the machine running, add the oil-tahini mixture in a steady stream through the feed tube, and continue to process until smooth and creamy, about 15 seconds, scraping down the bowl as needed.
Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let stand until the flavors meld, at least 30 minutes.
Source: inspired by Buff Chickpea
