AnchorMommy

Spinach Hummus Dip & Spread

August 26, 2009 by Shannon

Hummus is probably one of my favorite snacks. There are so many delicious versions in the grocery store, but I just can’t bring myself to buy them anymore. It is just too easy to make hummus at home, and it’s so much cheaper!

This recipe is something I whipped together for lunch this summer when my cousin and her two kids were visiting. Her four-year-old doesn’t have a big appetite, and I wondered what she would think of eating a dollop of green goo. But she cleaned her plate and asked for seconds! Her 18 month old brother gobbled it up too, as did Kellan. So you could say this recipe was taste-tested by three very different kiddos with varying degrees of food adventurousness.

One of the best things about this recipe is that there’s an extra green vegetable serving whipped into the hummus. So even if you just eat it with bread, you’re getting your veggies! Serve it with a plate of fresh vegetables, or spread on a sandwich instead of mayonnaise. It tastes better, and is better for you!

Healthy Spinach Hummus Dip & Spread

• Handful of fresh spinach
• 1 can of garbanzo beans
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon tahini (this is a paste-like spread made from sesame seeds)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt

1. Dump the garbanzo beans in a colander and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
2. Put the spinach in a food processor and chop until fine.
3. Add the garbanzo beans, minced garlic, lemon juice, tahini, sea salt and about a tablespoon of olive oil. Blend.
4. While running the processor, pour in a thin stream of olive oil until the hummus reaches a paste-like consistency. You may need to stop and scrape the sides with a spatula. Add more salt, if needed.