Isn’t it fascinating how miles away from the Middle-East, we Indians have grown so fond of hummus that we are now trying a million variations of it? For the uninitiated, hummus is a popular side dish or dip that is made with cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with garlic, tahini and a little bit of olive oil. Hummus can be paired with pita bread, or used as a spread for rolls or burgers. Its high protein value has made it a rage among fitness buffs too. A perfect hummus should have a paste-like velvety texture, an earthy taste with slightly tangy undertones. Since it is so easy to make hummus at home, many people like to give their own spin to the recipe. For instance, I once tried a hummus with grilled mushrooms thrown in between and was so impressed that I tried making the same at home.
And now, it is this almond-soaked hummus recipe by Indian Accent Chef Manish Mehrotra, that has become my go-to recipe. The award-winning chef uses the crunchy almonds to healthify hummus and we are here for it. Almonds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E and a plethora of antioxidants that help keep you young, healthy and agile. So without further ado, here’s the recipe you are looking for.
Ingredients:
Almond with peel- 1 cup
Hot water- 1 ½ cup
Olive oil- 5 tbsp
Lemon juice- 50 ml
Sea salt- to taste
Garlic 3 cloves
Kashmiri red chilli powder- ½ tsp
Roast cumin seed- 1 tsp
Method:
1. Soak whole almonds in hot water for at least 3 hours and remove the peel.
2. Blend skin off almonds, garlic cloves, cumin seed, lemon juice, sea salt and olive oil and to thick paste consistency.
3. Take off blended mix in a bowl and smoke it using coal to get the smoky aroma. Chill it for 30 minutes.
4. Serve almond hummus in a bowl, top it up with whole almonds slit in half.
Try this delicious recipe at home and start your day on a healthy and delicious note.