Want to try your hand at making hummus? It may not be as hard as you think. Read on to discover the culinary secrets of this Middle Eastern dip as you learn how to make hummus.

Hummus, the Arabic word for "chickpeas," is a smooth paste that's a popular food item in many Middle Eastern countries. It's also a nutritional powerhouse, packing vitamins, iron, dietary fiber, monounsaturated fats, and amino acids.http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4403/2 As well as being a staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants worldwide, hummus is available in most conventional grocery stores. It's can be a pricey item though, especially if you buy it often. What you may not know is that it's relatively easy to make with just the help of a blender and a few common and inexpensive ingredients. The best thing about making your own hummus is that, with some practice and trial and error, you'll be able to find an ideal blend that suits your taste. If you'd like to try you hand at making homemade hummus, read on!http://www.mediterrasian.com/delicious_recipes_hummus.htm

You'll need just a few key ingredients to make hummus, as well as a blender or food processor. There are a couple of key ingredients that can't be substituted if you're making hummus: chickpeas and tahini.

1. Dried chickpeas are fine to use as long as you rinse and cook them first, but canned chickpeas are just as good and perhaps more convenient.
2. Tahini is another term for sesame seed paste, which is difficult to make from scratch.http://www.ochef.com/737.htm It's necessary for authentic and smooth hummus, though, and can be found at most health food stores or Middle Eastern grocery stores.

• Other ingredients that are a part of nearly every hummus recipe are water, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.

• When making a batch of hummus, keep in mind your personal tastes.http://www.mediterrasian.com/delicious_recipes_hummus.htm

1. Roasted garlic can be used instead of raw garlic.
2. Use canola oil instead of olive oil.
3. Depending on preferences, hummus can also be made with a wide variety of other ingredients, such as:
   • Cumin
   • Chili powder
   • Parsley
   • Cilantro
   • Yogurt
   • Roasted red peppers
   • Pine nuts

• See the variations section for more hummus recipes.

There are dozens of variations of hummus recipes available, but this is a good base recipe to follow for smooth, classic hummus.

1. You will need the following ingredients:
   • 2 cloves garlic—roughly chopped
   • ¼ cup lemon juice
   • ¼ cup water
   • 14 oz (400g) canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans)—rinsed and drained
   • ½ cup tahini
   • 1 teaspoon sea salt
2. Combine all of the ingredients except the water in a blender or food processor.
3. Reserve the water - you'll need to add it gradually to get a consistency you desire in the hummus.
4. Process or blend the mixture.
5. Pulse or blend the hummus ingredients for several minutes until they've become a thick but fluffy paste Scrape down the sides if needed, and make sure that the chickpeas and garlic cloves are pureed entirely.
6. Add the water.
7. One tablespoon at a time, add the water to the hummus. Blend or process thoroughly after each addition until you've added enough water to achieve the consistency you want. The hummus should be very smooth.
8. Serve or store.http://www.mediterrasian.com/delicious_recipes_hummus.htm

• If you'd like, pick one (or more) of these popular add-ins to blend into your hummus:

1. Add one teaspoon of cumin if you like the flavor.http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/quickhummousandolive_71473.shtml
2. Two or three teaspoons of hot chili oil can spice things up.http://www.recipezaar.com/189116
3. Toss in ½ cup of roasted red peppers.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Roasted-Red-Pepper-Hummus/Detail.aspx
4. Add four teaspoons of curry powder.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Curried-Hummus/Detail.aspx
5. Include ¼ cup of sliced jalapenos.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jalapeno-Hummus/Detail.aspx

• You've made your hummus—now enjoy!

1. The traditional method of serving hummus is alongside pita wedges as an appetizer.http://www.cookingnook.com/hummus-recipe.html
2. It can also be served with fresh vegetables or meats, or even as a side dish to a main meal.
3. Hummus can look bland if it's not garnished, so give it some color and texture by serving it in bright bowls or sprinkling it with fresh parsley, cilantro, paprika, red pepper flakes, additional olive oil, chives or pine nuts.http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=8f9811ccc0584110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=also_try_p3 http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/101577

• Here are a few more different recipes to try:

1. Some of the tahini can be replaced with yogurt.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Yogurt-Hummus/Detail.aspx
2. Peanut butter can be used instead of tahini.http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7078.0
3. Or try this black bean variation from Epicurious.com, which is made with black beans in lieu of traditional chickpeas.http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/5237
4. Smoky chipolte hummus can be used for an interesting variation.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Smoky-Chipotle-Hummus/Detail.aspx