Mediterranean Olive and Feta Hummus
Monday, March 28, 2011 
My 1.5 year old is totally into dips these days. And why not? Dipping is fun! You can even use your fingers and paint a bit with your dip! He loves my Green Dip, and he's a big fan of cream gravy, guacamole, and ranch dressing.
I am trying to keep his dip choices in the healthier and more nutritious categories. One that he really loves, as does the rest of my gang, is hummus. I love seeing all of the flavor varieties at the store, but let's face it. They're pretty expensive for the amount you get, and most are full of preservatives to give them a longer shelf life. The solution, make your own at home! It's SOOOO easy and so much better than what you can buy at the deli.
The basic ingredients are easy to come by: chick peas (AKA garbanzo beans), garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. The flavor additions are limited only by your imagination. My self-made guideline is per one 15 ounce can of chick peas, add 1/2 cup of flavoring ingredient if it's potent or up to 1 cup if it's a milder flavor. I just love the marinated feta and Mediterranean olives that I can get at my local grocery store's olive bar, so I thought I'd try this combination. Warning: the first bite might knock your socks off, but then you'll have to make yourself stop!
Mediterranean Olive and Feta Hummus
1 can garbanzo beans, drain and reserve liquid
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup marinated Greek olives with feta cubes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse adding up to 1/4 cup reserved bean liquid to thin to desired consistency.
Taste and add salt if needed.
Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
If you're familiar with hummus recipes, you might notice the lack of tahini. It's not something that I keep on hand, and I don't miss it at all. But if you feel it's a must, add about 1/4 cup to the above recipe.
I also love to make roasted red pepper hummus. I just substitute jarred roasted red bell peppers for the olives and cheese. Toasted pine nuts and fresh basil are another nice combination. Or you could be daring and eat it plain! It's still great!
I like to eat my hummus with pita chips, but anything will do. My little guy prefers baby cheese doodles and fingers!
Nutritious dips are a great way to get kids to eat better. Serve them up with raw veggies or baked pita chips. Just don't tell them that something so yummy is actually good for them.
It'll be our little secret.
Keep lovin' and keep cookin'.
