* Ingredients

 - 1 cup dried chick peas (or two cans)
 - 1/4 cup liquid from chick peas (or vegetable stock)
 - 8 cloves of [[Roasted Garlic]]
 - Medium red bell pepper
 - 2 tsp paprika
 - 5 tbsp lemon juice (fresh if possible)
 - 2 tbsp olive oil (middle eastern if possible; the cultivars taste
   different!)
 - 5 tbsp tahini
 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt

* Directions

** Preparing the Beans

Just soak a cup of dried beans at least overnight in a couple of cups
of water. Drain them and throw them into a pot with enough water to
just more than cover them (an extra inch or so seems to be
good). Bring everything to a boil uncovered, and then cut the heat
back to simmer partially covered for about an hour or an hour and a
half (when the skins split easily they have a good texture).

When you drain them save the liquid and use that when blending the
hummus.

** Bell Pepper

Scorch the skin off of the bell pepper over flame or under a broiler,
and then [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130527144021/http://www.ochef.com/158.htm][roast the pepper]]:

    To roast the pepper, put the cut pieces in a baking dish with a
    little oil and pop it into a 400°F (205°C) oven, until the pieces
    are tender and slightly browned, about 25 to 30 minutes.

** And Now for the Actual Hummus

 1. Prepare the beans (or be lame and use canned beans)
 2. Throw everything together in a blender or food processor and blend
    until it is smooth
 3. Put whatever frilly garnish to make it look better on it if you must
 4. Take to a gathering of some sort
 5. Goodbye hummus

* Notes

One time I decided to make hummus for folks and alas! I forgot to soak
beans the night before. My strange friend came to the rescue with the
equivalent amount of home prepared white beans and it was a good
substitute (slightly different flavor, but the spices here really
dominate). I used the water from boiling the dried tomatoes as there
was no fresh chickpea water on hand and it was delightful.

I've used cheap blenders, decent food processors, and a
super-expensive blender to make this. It comes out about the same each
time. Just blend everything together at a moderate speed until it is
whatever you consider reasonable smooth.