We’re so excited today to share a recipe with you from our friend Aarti Sequeira’s new cookbook, Unwind: a Devotional Cookbook for the Harried and Hungry! Aarti is a cooking show host, cookbook author, journalist, television producer, and food personality. She is a mainstay on Food Network after winning season six of Food Network Star with her trademark combination of an infectious cackle and a unique signature food style: American favorites with an Indian soul. A passionate Christian, she also speaks to women of faith about overcoming fear and the sacred nature of breaking bread. Here’s what she has to say about her Quick Hummus in Unwind:
If there’s one dish that unites the Middle East, it’s probably hummus. And yet. when I came to the States, I was dismayed at what was passing for hummus at the grocery store. The hummus of my youth was light, velvety, like a cloud of chickpea and sesame. So I set out to create a recipe that would approximate the real thing because when you’ve tasted the real thing, just like when you’ve experienced true shalom, nothing else will do.
Mmmmm! Read on for Aarti’s recipe + styling tips from our friend Nancy for serving this hummus!
QUICK HUMMUS*
DOWNLOAD THE FREE RECIPE CARD HERE!
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Bake Time: none
Makes 10-12 servings.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained, chickpea water retained
- Kettle of boiling water
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon’s worth)
- 6 ice cubes, standard 1-ounce cubes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- Whole wheat pita bread for serving
- Extra lemon wedges for serving
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Measure out 1/4 cup of chickpea water (also known as aquafaba) before draining the chickpeas and set aside. Tumble drained chickpeas into a large bowl and cover with hot water by a couple of inches. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.
- Now make the hummus: Drain warm chickpeas and immediately pour them into your food processor. Buzz for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth paste forms.
- Add the reserved aquafaba, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, ice cubes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Buzz for 5 minutes until a smooth, fluffy hummus comes together. Taste for seasoning, adjusting salt, lemon juice, and tahini as you like. Spoon hummus onto your serving tray.
- Serve with warm pita bread and lemon wedges.
NOTE: If desired, you can include olives on your serving tray.
To get the styled look Nancy created here, use the Taste & See Relish Tray from Aarti’s collection, alongside the Gracious Home Charcuterie Board.
*This hummus recipe is part of a larger recipe available in Aarti’s new cookbook, Unwind: a Devotional Cookbook for the Harried and Hungry.