Mazza's Hummus

• dried garbanzo beans (garbanzo beans)↗1 bag
• water↗
• salt↗
• garlic cloves↗2
• lemon juice↗2 tablespoons

  (or more)

• tahini sesame butter↗3 tablespoons

  well stirred

• olive oil↗

  for drizzle

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Place chickpeas in a large bowl. Cover with cold water and place in the refrigerator. Soak for at least 24 hours or until tender. (You should be able to bite through a pea.)

2. 2

   Drain. Place in a large pot and cover with two to three inches of water. Add 1 teaspoon salt.

3. 3

   Bring to a boil.

4. 4

   Reduce heat and simmer 2 to 3 hours or more until peas are soft and there is about 1 inch of thick broth.

5. 5

   Add boiling water during cooking if water level gets to low. (This cooking process works well in a slow cooker.)

6. 6

   When peas are soft, drain, reserving cooking liquid.

7. 7

   For one batch of hummus place 2 cups softened peas, garlic, lemon juice, and tahini in the bowl of a food processor. Process adding broth a little at a time until well combined and creamy.

8. 8

   Season with salt. Taste, add more salt and/or lemon juice, if necessary.

9. 9

   Scrape into a serving bowl and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil.

10. 10

    If you plan to make the hummus ahead of time, it should be slightly thinner than you want, as it will firm up as it sits.

11. 11

    Place remaining cooked peas in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Cover with some of the cooking broth. Place in the freezer for later use.

12. 12

    Other tips from Mazza's owner: The key is to use the dried beans and soak them. Don't use canned.

13. 13

    Use tahini purchased at a Middle Eastern market. It will probably be fresher than those found at a grocery store.

14. 14

    And one final tip for getting the hummus the "creamy" consistency: start by mixing the drier ingredients first. Then slowly add cooking liquid until it reaches the texture you want.