Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

For the past month or so, I have been trying to eat better- I feel like my diet wasn't too bad, but it could definitely benefit from eating less sugar. One healthy snack I've been eating more of is hummus. I decided to try making it from scratch, and I love this version I have come up with!! I love eating it with crackers (they make even the plainest, healthiest cracker taste good), and have found that it makes a great spread on bread! I could also just eat it off a spoon... :)

You could use roasted red peppers from a jar, but it's also easy to make them yourself. You can make them up to a few days before making the hummus, then it makes it go even faster. HERE is how to make them.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Printable version here

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz. can garbanzo beans (a.k.a. chickpeas), rinsed, drained, & skins off*
1 roasted red pepper
3 tbsp. lemon juice (approx. 1 med. lemon)
2 tbsp. tahini
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1. In a small pan, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. After about a minute, add the garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and pour garlic mixture into a food processor. (Be careful, because garlic burns easily if cooked too long or the heat is too high.)

2. Add remaining ingredients to food processor. Process until hummus is a smooth consistency. Transfer to a covered bowl & store in the refrigerator. Yield: about 2 cups.

*Garbanzo beans have a papery outer skin. This is a little time consuming to peel off, but it makes for a smoother hummus. One way to get it off faster is to put the rinsed beans on a clean towel, and rub the beans vigorously with the towel. That helps loosen the skins.

Why I love it? The main reason I love this is because it tastes great!! The flavors go together so well- not one of them stands out to me. I can taste the red pepper (which also helps give it a nice color), and the cayenne makes it just the right amount of spiciness. It has less preservatives than store-bought hummus, and it's cheaper, too. Another advantage of making it yourself is that you can adjust the ingredients to your tastes. You could easily make this more or less spicy, more garlicky, etc. I hope you enjoy it!