Hommus or Hummus
 

Hummus is popular throughout the Middle Eastern world, but its origins are unknown

Serve hommus with some dry, savoury crackers or with cut veges such as carrot sticks and celery and Voila!  Or spread on flat breads such as pita breads. It can also be used as a dressing for salad vegetables or grilled meat such as chicken.

Hummus is full of fibre and iron.
 

Simple Savings can help you today !  You've seen it on A Current Affair and read about it in That's Life magazine, now see how Fiona Lippey's hints and tips can help you save thousands of dollars each year.

Ingredients:

Can cooked chickpeas, 400 gm (about 12 oz) size, drained
1 garlic clove, chopped finely
1 tablespoon tahini
3 tablespoons sour light cream
1/2 teaspoon lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish: chopped parsley, toasted sesame seeds or paprika

Method:

Place everything except the garnish ingredients into a blender.  Blend on high until mixture is smooth.

Pour into a serving bowl and sprinkle with all or any of the garnish ingredients.

Use as a dip or spread on hot Turkish bread.

Notes:

If you don't have lime juice then use lemon juice.

Sour light cream can be replaced with natural yoghurt

Food Facts:

Chickpeas are also known as Garbanzo Beans. They have a nutty flavour.  They need lengthy cooking and are used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. They are high in fibre and  flavonoids, keeping the digestive system healthy and lowering cholesterol. They are rich in Vitamin E and zinc so they help fight infection and they promote healthy cell growth.

Garlic is a "wonder" food.  It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-cancer properties.  It has been found to lower blood cholesterol, to boost the immune system, to lift one's mood and to create a calming effect. It is thought to have originated in central Asia. Garlic can exaggerate the effects of drugs used to combat high blood pressure so be careful. If your breath smells strongly of garlic try chewing on parsley.