Fluffy Hummus

Ingredients

1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained (reserving 1/4 cup of liquid)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup well-stirred tahini

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp ground cumin

Salt, to taste

2–4 tbsp reserved chickpea liquid

Za'atar, for serving

Preparation

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then process for 30 seconds more. This extra time helps bloom the tahini, making the hummus smooth and creamy.

2. Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then process for another 30 seconds until well blended.

3. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then add the remaining chickpeas and process until thick and relatively smooth, 1–2 minutes.

4. The hummus will likely be too thick and still have tiny bits of chickpea. With the processor running, slowly add 2–3 tablespoons of the reserved chickpea liquid until you reach the desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.