How to Make Hummus...

...the Hungry Jenny Way!

I promise that this turns into something edible, I swear!

So, hummus is the stuff of easy dip - yes, it's something you can just buy from a shop, and all you need to do then is chop up some veg or rip up some pitta to go with it.

But it's also something you can whip up relatively quickly at home. Of course, it's much more satisfying and healthy this way, you have the Control of what goes in that hummus, and you can adjust it to taste.

With it being of a dip consistency though, the obvious tool you can have to hand for this purpose would be a food processor, or a blender, right? Bung all the ingredients in, whizz-whizz, and dip you go.

So what happens if you don't possess such a tool?

Grab a potato masher of course!

As you can see, I've only a fairly cheap, plastic potato masher at the mo (probably would have been better off with a fork, come to think of it...

Anyway, the main ingredient is chickpeas, and as lovely as they are, they are NOT easy to mash (and yes I do mean the ones out the tin, not the dried ones).

So you've got to soften them - but this must be done carefully. Heat them on the hob in a bit of water, and every now and again, attempt to mash them.

Coax the mashing of the chickpeas along - they won't accept right away. Some will be so stubborn that they'll just roll out from underneath the masher and snigger at you. Others will be deft enough to leap out the pan altogether.

But don't let them get to you. They will succumb.

Hummus (without a food processor/blender)

Print-friendly recipe

Makes about 300g:

200g chickpeas
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
A handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped (1 tbsp approx)

A mighty load of elbow grease
And don't forget your potato masher ;-)

1. Put the chickpeas in a non-stick pan with a little water on medium heat. Gently keep on the simmer, and after about 10 minutes, start to mash gently every few minutes. Keep adding a little water if needed. Continue to simmer and mash until it's all fairly soft.
2. Take off the heat and pour into a large bowl. Add in the lemon juice, zest, oil, chopped garlic and coriander.
3. Then get mashing!

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