Now that the weather is nice, it is time to start to think about BBQ’s, picnics and the many types of food that go along with these outdoor events. Fresh vegetables are always a favourite of mine, but sometimes just eating raw vegetables gets a little boring. I find myself scouring the picnic table looking for something to dip my cucumber slice into. Then I see it – Hummus!

I really enjoy hummus; it is a relatively healthy dip for über healthy raw vegetables. I used to bring it every day in my lunch, but it is a bit expensive, and there are additives in some of the hummus varieties that you can purchase at the grocery store.

I was mentioning this dilemma to my sister, and she suggested that I try to make my own hummus. Really? Make my own condiment/dip? Well, I guess I can give it a go.

When I searched on-line for a recipe, it became pretty obvious to me that this is really something that everyone can make. Five key ingredients and then let you taste preferences decide the rest!

• Chick Peas
• Lemon
• Tahini
• Garlic
• Olive Oil

Why did I not look into this before? So, I made up my list and to the grocery store I went.

Now, those of you who follow along with my kitchen adventures know that I love spicy food. So, I decided, of course, to make a spicy hummus dip for my fresh vegetables. Now, I obviously would use a jalapeño pepper, that was just a given, but what else could I do to ramp up the spice factor?

I took a look at the spicy hummus that was at the grocery store, and made note that it has a red colour, Ah ha! Hot Sauce! I knew I had a bottle of Sriracha sauce at home, so I picked up my simple ingredients, excited to whip up my first batch of hummus.

This is so easy! I mean, you just throw everything in your food processor and blend until it is the desired consistency. The original recipe called for two tablespoons of olive oil, but I found it to be a bit dry, so I added a bit more. The Sriracha along with the jalapeño gave me the heat I was looking for.

Tasting this right out of the food processor, the consistency was perfect, but I did find that after it was in the fridge for a bit, it became a bit dry. I discovered that taking the hummus out of the fridge about an hour before I went to eat it was perfect. Or, I guess I could just add more olive oil next time.

My first attempt at a homemade condiment was a total success! Never again will I purchase pre-made hummus!

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Adapted from:
Michael Smith’s Hummus
Food Network

Ingredients:

• 1 can (540 ml) chick peas (rinsed)
• 2 1/2 tbsp tahini
• 1 lemon, juiced and zested
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 3 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 jalapeño pepper – seeded and diced
• 1/2 tsp Sriracha Hot Sauce

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. That’s it!  Enjoy!