Zesty Avocado-Garlic Hummus

What do you do when you don't have enough avocados to make a full bowl of guacamole and you don't have enough chick peas (garbanzos) to make a full bowl of hummus? Simple: Use what you have to create a tasty hybrid!

I considered calling this recipe "guacammus" or "hummole" but neither of those sounded particularly appetizing, so instead I just called it what it is: A zesty, avocado and garlic-flavored version of hummus. You can enjoy this "Middle East meets Latin America" dish just as you would enjoy guacamole or hummus: As a dip with raw vegetables, chips or pita wedges, and in sandwiches and wraps.

In addition to being very quick and easy to prepare, especially if you use a food processor, this recipe readily multiplies and you can adjust the amount of any ingredient to suit your taste preferences. The cilantro can also be replaced with parsley if you're one of those folks that hates cilantro--but the small amount used here doesn't dominate and provides only a hint of cilantro flavor.

Ingredients
1 can (15.5 oz) chick peas, aka garbanzo beans, drained BUT reserve the liquid
1 small avocado (or a large one for a richer avocado flavor)
1/4 cup (tightly packed) finely chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of half a lemon

Buy Organic Tahini online

1 Tbs tahini
2 tsp minced garlic OR 4 garlic cloves, minced
Salt & freshly-ground pepper to taste
Optional garnishes: a few cilantro leaves, a sprinkling of chile powder or mild paprika

If using a food processor:  Place the first six ingredients in the bowl of your processor and process to desired consistency, adding a little of the reserved chickpea liquid if the mixture is too thick. Taste for balance, season with salt & pepper as desired and stir to combine. Serve in a dip bowl and garnish if desired, or use as a sandwich spread or a filling for wraps. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

If making this manually:  Mash together the chickpeas, avocado, tahini and lemon juice to desired consistency, adding a little of the reserved liquid if the mixture is too thick. Stir in the cilantro and garlic until thoroughly combined. Taste for balance, season with salt & pepper as desired and stir to combine. Serve in a dip bowl and garnish if desired, or use as a sandwich spread or a filling for wraps. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria