Hummus

Click here for a simpler recipe without tahini.  Tahini is easy to make and adds a delicious taste, but if you don't know it's not there, you'll still enjoy your hummus. Also, hummus with tahini contains complete proteins--ideal for a vegetarian diet.

Original recipe from All Recipes

Ingredients:

• 1 bag garbanzo beans, cooked (about 6 cups cooked)
• 1 cup tahini (sesame seeds and oil, recipe below)
• ¾ cup lemon juice
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced 
• 3 tsp salt (can omit fresh garlic and use 3 tsp garlic salt for milder taste--I prefer this)
• 3 tsp parsley
• 3 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika

Directions:

1. To make tahini, roast 1 cup sesame seeds for 7-10 min at 350, stirring occasionally.  Blend in a blender (I use my single-serve) with >1/3 cup olive oil.  Add extra oil as needed, or some of the lemon juice called for in the recipe.
2. Combine all ingredients in a strong blender or food processor; pulse until smooth.  Add extra olive oil if needed.  May be frozen or refrigerated for about 2 weeks.
3. Serve with pitas, pita chips, and/or vegetables like celery and peppers.

Babies can eat hummus too!   They're probably ready to try it around 8 months.  Try to introduce most or all of the ingredients first to your baby separately (seasonings/spices aside) to check for allergic reaction.  It's better to start with hummus without tahini, since tahini is made of sesame seeds, which are more likely to cause allergies.  Check here for more information on feeding babies hummus, and here for a chart on when to introduce different foods to baby.