Holy Guacamole, or is it Hummus? It's Guacamole Hummus!

As soon as I saw this sign ..............

............ at one of my local markets, I knew that we'd be enjoying avocados in soups (like this one) , salads (like this one or this one), salsas (yum!), salad dressings and spreads (we LOVE this one) and more - all week long!

For a while, I've had an idea to put together a hummus in which avocado would be "the star". I tried a Guacamole Hummus a while back from Trader Jo's, but I was a little disappointed in the flavor. I've always thought this should be a delicious combination, since we love both hummus and avocados here at The Café.

I checked out a few recipes online and then decided to put together my own version. After a bit of tinkering, I'm quite pleased with the results; lots of great flavor and nutrition from garbanzo beans, cilantro, lemon and lime juice, extra virgin olive oil*, tahini and cumin. And it comes together in minutes with a food processor!

Yesterday, we couldn't stop eating this Guacamole Hummus. The recipe has gone into my favorites file and I know I'll be pulling it out frequently; both for everyday healthy snacks and dressed up a bit for company!

P.S. Oh, and if you're looking for something fabulous to serve with your Guacamole Hummus, check back on Monday for the recipe for these simple Sesame Crisps; shatteringly crisp, delightfully delicious - you may NEVER want to purchase crackers or pita chips at the store again! My husband said they're better than any he's ever had!

Guacamole Hummus

Ingredients:
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 large bunch cilantro** or two small bunches, washed and drained (cut off the very tips of the stems where it has dried out and pick off any yellowing leaves.)
2 medium garlic cloves
1 ripe avocado, halved, peeled and pitted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
¼ cup tahini (tahini is ground sesame seeds, you can find it in the Middle Eastern section of larger grocers or at any Middle Easter grocery - I find it at several of my common, everyday markets)
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil* (editors note - I made this a second time, since we gobbled up the first batch and only added 2 tablespoons of olive oil - it is just as delicious!)
finely chopped jalapeño (optional)

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except olive oil in the bowl of a food processor. Process for 3-4 minutes until mixture is smooth, scraping down the bowl once or twice during the pureeing. Transfer to a bowl or storage container and stir in olive oil. Don't add olive oil to to the mixture in the food processor as it can cause your hummus to become bitter* so just stir it in after everything else is pureed. Season to taste with more sea salt if needed and freshly ground black pepper. A sprinkle of finely chopped jalapeño is also delicious! Serve with Sesame Crisps, pita chips, raw veggies or tortilla chips. This hummus also makes a delicious sandwich spread.

Notes:
* ~ If you make your own hummus you may have noticed that it can have a somewhat bitter taste. I learned something interesting recently from Cook's Illustrated; extra-virgin olive oil should never be put in a food processor - and this is what they say about it; extra-virgin olive oil contains bitter-tasting compounds called polyphenols that are normally coated by fatty acids, which prevent them from dispersing in the presence of liquid. When olive oil is broken into droplets in an emulsion, the polyphenols get squeezed out and will disperse in any liquid in the mix, so that their flavor becomes evident. The blades of a food processor break olive oil into much smaller droplets than those created from whisking. The smaller the droplets, the more polyphenols that break free and disperse, and the more bitter an emulsion will taste. (Note: In recipes such as pesto, which contain lots of other robust flavors from herbs, nuts, and cheese, we found that any bitter taste went unnoticed.) That's why I recommend adding the olive oil after removing the hummus from the food processor. I agree with Cook's Illustrated, I think it really does make a difference!
** ~ I know, I know this sounds like a ton of cilantro - it is! But this is what gives it such a bright, fresh flavor. And combined with the other ingredients, it doesn't taste too "cilantro-y", even if your not that fond of cilantro on it's own, I think you will love this!

PRINTABLE RECIPE