Half Calorie Hummus

I recently traveled to Israel in November, and was able to taste hummus from both Arab and Israeli cultures. They varied in sweetness, texture, and creaminess. But one thing I did notice was the generous amount of olive oil that was added to both recipes. Yes, olive oil is great for you, but being mindful of amounts is important, as there will always be that extra calorie creep. When I got home, I played around with the recipes that I learned, and actually realized that hummus tastes pretty amazing with the right amount of tahini and spice, and the intense olive flavor can come from olives, with, you guessed it, no olive oil!!!

The result is a light and delicious dip the is half the calories, still soooo yummy, and the chopped olives gives it that flavor punch!

---

Half Calorie Hummus

Prep Time
5 mins

Serves
6

INGREDIENTS

1 (15 to 16-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons tahini

Juice of 1/2 lemon

3 tablespoons water

2 cloves garlic

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

In a food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until the chickpeas begin to break up.

Set to high speed and process for a full minute or until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick to blend, simply add an additional tablespoon of hot water.

Season with salt to taste before serving alongside your favorite veggies and gluten-free crackers, for dipping.

Serve it topped with 2 tablespoons chopped Kalamata olives.

Ingredient Insider

Tahini is a creamy spread made from toasted sesame seeds  You can usually find it in jars in the ethnic food aisle, near the  Middle Eastern or Indian foods. Great source of protein and rich flavor. Perfect as a dip for any roasted vegetable too!

Calories per serving: 95 ∙ Fat: 4g ∙ Net Carbs: 8g ∙ Fiber: 4g ∙ Sugars: 0.5g ∙ Protein: 4.5g