Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Beyond hummus being naturally gluten free, it’s also extremely easy to make which makes the perfect fit for both my name and philosophy.  If food is easy to prepare, it's more likely that you won't consider it a chore.  This version of hummus adds roasted red pepper to the mix which gives it a bit an Italian flair.  And besides adding vitamin C to the dish, my daughter got a real kick watching the red pepper roast on the open flame of my gas range.  But let me issue a warning to all the kids out there...DON'T ROAST THE PEPPERS WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION.  And for all you adults out there that don't feel confident around an open flame, the video tutorial also gives instructions on how to roast the peppers in the oven which may even be easier than the open flame method.      

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Prep time: 5 min

Ingredients 

• (2) 15 oz cans of chickpeas,  rinsed & drained
• 1 large red pepper, roasted & peeled ( or 6-8 oz. of jarred roasted red peppers)
• 2 cloves of garlic, grated
• 1 lemon, zest & juice
• pinch of cayenne, to taste
• salt, to taste
• 1/3 cup of olive oil

Video Tutorial:  

Directions 

1. In a food processor, blend everything together except for the olive oil until it’s well combined.  You may need to stop the processor and scrape down the sides of the bowl periodically.
2. With the food processor running slowly stream in the olive oil and blend until you have a smooth creamy paste.
3. Spread onto a serving plate, top with a little more olive oil and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper before serving.

Notes  

1. To cut back on the amount of oil used in the recipe you could and add a few tablespoon in place of some of the oil as it is being processed until you have the smooth creamy consistency.
2. Once the dish is finished it’s best to refrigerate for an hour or two before serving so the flavors can blend.

After watching the video, if you choose to roast your pepper on the open fire, please be sure to NEVER to leave the pepper unattended.  Rotate the pepper frequently and as a safety measure be sure to have a fire extinguisher close at hand.  And remember that the video does contain an oven roasting method too if you feel uncomfortable with fire.