To make basic hummus, simply whirr all ingredients to taste in a blender. Start with a small spoonful of tahini and only a little seasoning, and adjust to taste. Store the hummus in an airtight container in the fridge, covered with a little more olive oil.
Hummus Variations
Seasonings-add salt, paprika, cumin, curry powder or garam masala. Curried hummus makes a tasty addition to salad-filled pita breads.
For an extra veggie kick, blend equal parts of hummus and mashed or pureed cooked pumpkin. Roasted red pepper hummus is another popular variant often sold in delis-to make it, grill a halved red pepper until blackened, then pull off the skin and blend the flesh into the hummus. Sun dried or semi-sun-dried tomatoes can also be blended into the dip.