Simply Hummous

Pictured here: Hummous with roasted red pepper and macadamia nut oil

Friends always ask me why I make my own hummous! Well, here's my answer:

It's easy
It's nutritious
It allows me to put as much garlic as I like into it (only limited by H's tolerance)
It's easy!

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and washed under hot water for a couple minutes
1-2 medium cloves of garlic (more or less depended on how garlicky you like things. 1 clove would be a minimum)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water
Juice of 1 large lemon (~ 4-5 tbps)
1/2 cup tahini paste (Get the roasted kind, it makes for a more nutty hummous)
1/4 cup pine nuts (optional. but when i remember to throw this in, it makes for a lovely buttery spread)
Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
Salt to taste
Paprika and some more olive oil to garnish

Start with the garlic in a running food processor.
Add the beans, tahini and lemon juice
Drizzle in the olive oil
Add the pine nuts
Add water slowly until desired consistency is achieved.
Add salt to taste
Transfer to bowl and drizzle olive oil on top
Sprinkle with paprika

Yummy Variations:
50/50 of garbanzo and boiled potato
Add spinach
Substitute canneleni beans
Substitute walnuts for pine nuts
Add roasted red peppers
Add tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
Substitute macadamia nut oil