I just discovered humus! good stuff!

Humus is lovely - it is good with oatcakes too, it is good for you because it has garlic, lemon juice and olive oil as well as protein from whichever beans are used. I use chick peas to make it. Either cook to chick peas or buy a good quality organic canned version ready to use and blend with lemon juice, garlic, tahini (sesame seed paste, extra virign olive oil - there are alot of good recipes online and it does not take long to make.

I love hummus (there are various ways of spelling it depending of which Middle Eastern language you take it from. I use 'mm' because 'humus' means 'soil' or 'compost' to me!) and it is really very easy to make. It is usually made from chick peas (which I think are also known as garbanzos) but it can be made using many dried beans or peas. It also contains olive oil, garlic and tahini paste (ground sesame seeds). I have tried making it without tahini and it doesn't seem to be as creamy. Actually, peanut butter is a close relative of hummus. Like hummus, it is the ground dried seeds of a member of the pea/bean family. Here is one recipe for making it: http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/5491/hummus-dip.aspx . It uses canned chickpeas (garbanzos) but if you want to cook the dried ones (which would be cheaper), you should cook them until they are very soft. This might take two or three hours of cooking unless you have a pressure cooker. This recipe doesn't have tahini paste (which is sometimes hard to find and is quite expensive when you do find it!) but it does include toasted sesame seeds, which I would recommend including. This recipe is more authentic: http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/Hummus-Dip-L363.html . You may have to search around for tahini but it is basically a paste made from ground sesame seeds and olive oil: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/dipsandsauces/r/tahinirecipe.htm . I think that it adds something essential.

Hummus is also good with baked pita chips. I like to try the different varieties too, with olives or red peppers. You can make them by baking pita bread cut in quarters. Bake them until crisp. I also like it as a sandwich spread on toast. Garbanzo beans are supposed to help lower cholesterol.

hi macdingolinger love that user name he he he.oh garbanzo beans are so good for you and the sesame seed stuff they use with some good yogurt,it all makes humus and that is so tasty. I love the stuff, it is really yummy and full of vitamins and minerals and just good healthy ingredients.low fat, low sugar and highly nutritious what is not to love and with pretzels wow. that would be the ultimate, and if the pretzels were whole grain that would be even better. Yes it really is good to eat and good for you. heres to humus.

hi macdingolinger, first time i am heard about gabonzo beans,i think these beans will not available in India,i am using regular beans in India,i like beans as side dishes and they will cut into pieces and baked with rice to prepare friend rice and veg.palau,have a nice day