If you are hosting a party, you may want to learn how to cook roasted red pepper hummus to serve as a healthy appetizer. Hummus is a Mediterranean-style dip consisting of crushed or ground garbanzo beans, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and salt. Some hummus recipes also include tahini, which is a paste made from ground sesame seeds.http://www.greatpartyrecipes.com/hummusrecipe.html Consider including roasted red bells peppers to add color, nutritional value and a taste of sweetness to the classic hummus dip.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=50

Garbanzo beans, also called chickpeas, are an affordable and low-fat food containing high levels of protein, fiber and B vitamins.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=58#purchasequalities Cans of garbanzo beans can often be bought for less than $1 at major grocery stores. Red peppers are packed with fiber, folic acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin C, which may help prevent or offset heart disease, high cholesterol, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=50

To make hummus, you will first need to collect the following ingredients:

• 1 can garbanzo beans
• 1 lemon
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste
• 1 large roasted red bell pepperhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pd2Hi0zdH8

Canned garbanzo beans are sold in most supermarkets, but you may opt for dried beans that are pre-packaged or made available in bulk containers. Canning tends to lower the nutritional value of vegetables, and canned garbanzo beans have about 15 percent less protein than the dry beans you cook yourself. They do tend to maintain their B-vitamins, except for folic acid which decreases by about 45 percent through the process of canning.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=58#purchasequalities If you do cook the dried variety, allow about an hour and a half for this process.http://www.chezbettay.com/pages/basics1/basics_beans1.html

Hummus can be made either with or without a food processor or blender.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pd2Hi0zdH8 A food processor will create a creamier dip, while mashing by hand will lead to chunkier hummus. Follow these steps to make plain, classic hummus:

1. Chop, purée or press one glove of garlic.
2. Add the can of garbanzo beans to the blender or bowl with the garlic. Proceed to purée or mash with a mortar, potato masher or fork.
3. Add the juice of 1/2 or whole lemon, depending on your preference.
4. Add the olive oil and salt, then purée or mash until creamy.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pd2Hi0zdH8

If the mixture seems dry, add more olive oil or water until it is the consistency you desire.http://www.vegan-nutritionista.com/vegan-appetizers.html

Once you have made a plain hummus dip, you can add one large roasted red bell pepper. Grocery stores often sell bell peppers in cans or jars, or you may opt to roast your own red pepper at home, which you can do on a grill or a standard stove range.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm_Umf8GTb8 Chop the pepper into a few pieces to add to the hummus in your food processor or blender.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pd2Hi0zdH8 If you are blending the hummus by hand, chop the pepper finely and then mash it in.

Once you have blended the pepper into the hummus, transfer mixture to a serving bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the top. You can also sprinkle paprika and freshly chopped parsley for added appeal.http://www.greatpartyrecipes.com/hummusrecipe.html

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.