How to Make Hummus by Hand?

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BENEFITS OF HUMMUS

IT COMES IN DIFFERENT FLAVORS

Perhaps one of the reasons why hummus might have gained such a huge popularity is its versatility. Hummus might only have few basic ingredients but there are different things you can add to it to give it so many awesome flavors. This way, lots of recipes can be made and these recipes are just as popular as the basic hummus itself; perhaps even more because they give a different kind of taste. Can you ever get bored with hummus? That’s unlikely. This is because you can make hummus in different forms and still get the maximum health benefits out of it.

IT FIGHTS OFF INFLAMMATION

Another important health benefit of hummus is that it produces powerful antioxidants that are responsible for fighting off inflammation, thanks to one of its basic ingredients, olive oil. Acute inflammation is one thing everybody should be looking to avoid and hummus is one of the many ways this can be achieved.

According to an article published on Healthline, tahini, one of the basic ingredients of hummus which is made from sesame seeds, can help reduce inflammation markers which can result in an acute inflammatory disease called arthritis. So, knowing that three of the basic ingredients needed to make hummus have properties that can help combat inflammation makes it even more encouraging to consume.

IT IS LIKELY TO HELP REDUCE CANCER RISK

Chickpeas, one of the main ingredients used in preparing hummus, contain a large quantity of foliate, and according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, this largely supports the growth of gut bacteria (healthy ones) which in turn can reduce one’s chances of having colon cancer. For this reason, hummus is considered to be very healthy and the fact that it is very tasty makes it an all-round healthy snack.

HUMMUS IMPROVES HEART CONDITIONS

What is the most fascinating thing you’ve heard about Mediterranean diets? A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine Mediterranean diet that contains high levels of beans, fish, vegetables, and fruits can prevent people with heart conditions from dying. This is a huge revelation and hummus being a Middle Eastern dish that contains all of those ingredients can o a lot to help people with heart conditions. Heart conditions should never be taken lightly (health conditions generally) and since hummus promotes good heart health, why don’t you try making some healthy hummus recipes today?

IT HELPS MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Another important benefit of hummus is that it helps you maintain a very healthy weight. The tahini, which is made from sesame seed, is filled with a great number of monounsaturated fats which have proved to be healthy fats and help reduce belly fat. Additionally, chickpeas have proved to be rich in proteins and that can cause you to feel fuller for a longer time, reducing the number of junk foods you’ll be consuming in the process. The overall importance of hummus regarding healthy weight maintenance cannot be overemphasized.

HUMMUS IMPROVES ANEMIA

Anemia is a bad health condition that causes weakness and tiredness. This occurs when the red blood cells in your body are not strong enough to carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues in your body. So, what has hummus got to do with this? Chickpeas and tahini, two of the basic ingredients of hummus, are rich in iron which helps strengthen your red blood cells by delivering sufficient energy to them.

HUMMUS CAN LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL

Chickpeas are very well known for containing healthy nutrients that can help reduce the cholesterol in your body, which in turn is a good way to prevent any heart-related diseases. Although the best way to ensure your hummus stays healthy is when you make it at home. Homemade hummus recipes always prove to have less sodium than when bought at the grocery stores.

DIFFERENT HUMMUS RECIPES YOU CAN MAKE BY HAND

Now that we’ve talked about several health benefits you can get from consuming hummus, let’s take a quick look at the hummus recipes you can make by hand.

BASIC LEBANESE-INSPIRED HUMMUS RECIPE

This recipe is a very popular one in the Middle East, especially Lebanon where most people believe hummus originated from in the first place. Though a simple cuisine, this recipe is great for many reasons, one of which is its awesome taste. If you now combine this with its simple, handmade style, then you have one of the best hummus recipes right in your hands.

INGREDIENTS

• Olive oil
• 4 crushed garlic cloves
• 2 cups of juiced lemon
• ½ tbsp of salt
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• 8 tbsp of tahini
• 30 ounces of dried chickpeas
• ¼ tbsp of paprika

INSTRUCTIONS

• After rinsing the chickpeas thoroughly, soak them in water with baking soda for about 10 hours so they’ll soften quicker.

• After they must have been properly soaked, put them in a filter so you can get rid of the old water. Proceed to rinse them again with clean water.

• Transfer the chickpeas to a pot and boil on high heat after adding about 6 cups of water. Cook for about 45 minutes and if the chickpeas are soft enough, it means they’ve been properly cooked.

• Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and with the help of a potato masher, mash the chickpeas along with the other ingredients until you have the perfect consistency (it is important to know that you won’t get the same results using your hand compared to when you’re using a food processor or a blender)

• Once you have perfect consistency, you can add a little olive oil and other ingredients you might have in mind to garnish.

• Enjoy your handmade delicious hummus!

AVOCADO HUMMUS RECIPE

Like we mentioned earlier, hummus is one of the most versatile snacks you can think of and to think that you can have it together with avocado flavor makes it even more amazing. This is a really amazing recipe and as much as you’ll get a very creamy consistency with either a blender or food processor, you can also make it by hand with the help of a potato mash. This will also give you great consistency. Not as great as the other two machines though.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups of well-cooked chickpeas
• 3 tablespoons of tahini
• 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt
• 2 medium-sized well-chopped avocados
• ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• 2 garlic cloves
• ½ cup of juiced limes
• ½ teaspoon of salt

INSTRUCTIONS

• Put all the hummus ingredients in a bowl that is large enough to contain all of them and with a potato masher or a mug, mash the ingredients together until you begin to have a great consistency. You might want to add the ingredients one after the other after you must have totally mashed the cooked chickpeas to avoid a hard texture.

• If the mixture is too thick, then proceed to add a little chickpeas liquid and continue mashing until you have a consistency that is close to creamy (this is the best you can get if you’re making this recipe with your hand).

• Transfer the hummus to a serving plate and cover it with plastic wrap to prevent a change in the color of the hummus. Leave it to chill for a couple of minutes before you garnish with extra olive oil and any other ingredients you have in mind.

• Enjoy your avocado hummus!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you make hummus by hand?

Indeed, you can only get the best result out of your hummus recipes when you make them with a high-powered blender or food processor. However, handmade hummus recipes don’t taste any different. The only clear difference is the smoothness in the final texture which is only natural if you don’t get it by using your hand. In the end, you’ll enjoy your handmade hummus more because you won’t lose any nutrients or vitamins to the blending process.

2. How do you mash chickpeas without using a potato masher?

Chickpeas are the most important part of hummus and when you’re making handmade hummus recipes, mashing can be difficult sometimes. The potato masher is the most common masher to use in this case but a worthy alternative is a mug which you can always use if a potato masher doesn’t seem feasible.

Wrapping Up

Hummus is one of the quickest and easiest snacks to make and for this reason; a lot of people have turned their attention to it for that quick, tasty experience. However, making hummus has always been limited to just high-powered blenders and food processors which have made people believe those are the only ways hummus could be made. Making hummus by hand is not impossible. Matter of fact, it is a well-proven method that has worked for a lot of people. We have discussed two of the best hummus recipes you can make by hand and we hope you try them out.