Hummus recipe....and soft pretzel recipe

[JPH]

I was originally going to PM this to Trogdor since he asked for it...but hell...why not share....

Garlic-y HUMMUS

6 garlic cloves, minced and then mashed
2, 15-oz cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
2/3 cup of tahini (roasted, not raw)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt

In a food processor, combine the mashed garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add salt, starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste.


Serve with crackers, raw dip vegetables such as carrots or celery, or with pita bread. You can cut the pita bread into thin triangles, brush with olive oil and toast for 10 minutes in a 400°F oven to make pita chips with which to serve the hummus.

Makes about 3 cups.

SOFT PRETZELS .....freaking amazing...and cost like .20 each or less..

For 6 large or 12 small pretzels)
Ingredients:
3 ½ C of flour
4 Tbl. brown sugar
2 t salt (sea salt preferably)
1 Tblsp. yeast, dissolved in the water
1 C water (120°) fairly warm but not hot.

Tbl.. baking soda mixed with 1 Cup boiling water
in a small bowl.

1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl.
Mix water , yeast, brown sugar and salt in a food processor, or a large mixing bowl. Add flour and mix until dough is smooth. Add more flour if sticky. (If possible let the dough sit overnight in a plastic container in the fridge.)

Now divide the dough into 4, 6 or 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope, very thin, a little bigger than a pencil if your making 4 you can roll it about cigar size and 36 inches long .

Shape into an upside down U shape on your table. Bring the ends together and twist them.

Flatten the ends with your fingers and bring to the top of the pretzel and press in the dough to secure, making it look like a pretzel. Place on a greased cookie sheet.

Now let the pretzels raise for 30 minutes or till about double in size. Brush with the water-soda solution.
For a chewier crust put 2 Tbl. baking soda mixed with 4 Cups boiling water drop the pretzel in there for about the count of 10 and then lift out with a strainer or pancake turner.
Brush the pretzels with the egg and the water that was whipped up in a small bowl. ( a cereal bowl is perfect)
This gives the pretzel a nice shinny glaze.

Add toppings…. Sea salt, cinnamon and sugar, parmesan cheese…ect..

Bake in a hot oven 400 to 450 degrees (225 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes or until well browned.

[Kiwi Michelle]

[SIZE=3]Love that hummus - very similar recipe to mine - i just chuck things in the blender.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]A nice addition is cummin and/or sun dried tomatoes!![/SIZE]

[bazookajoe]

Thanks for the pretzel recipe JPH, I'll be trying it asap.

[JPH]

Originally Posted by bazookajoe

Thanks for the pretzel recipe JPH, I'll be trying it asap.

Let me know how you like it...I thought it was insane.....

[bazookajoe]

Originally Posted by JPH

Let me know how you like it...I thought it was insane.....

I've never even thought of making them at home - great idea, especially if I can get my kids to make them...

[mosesbotbol]

Try making the hummus with dry beans instead, soaking for overnight and then boiled to tender... The difference is worth it and dry beans less expensive too!

If using canned beans really, really rinse them well. A pinch of paprika or soumak is a must while blending.

I am interested to make the pretzels; I love soft pretzels.

[trogdor]

The hummus came out great! Now that I know what's in it, I could tweak it a bit (a little less tahini, a LOT more garlic) to suit my garlic fetish. I have to go get more pita bread soon...

[TechMetalMan]

I plan on trying out the hummus this weekend if I have the time.

For those of you who like pita bread with it I would also recommend trying Barbari bread with it. Barbari bread is a long, 1/2-3/4 inch loaf- often topped with sesame seeds. It is different from pita in that it has a nice, fluffy layer in between. One of my favourite breads.