I typically buy Krinos tahini, but hate having to stir the oil back down into the stiff solids. A jar was in my refrigerator, but when I decided to make hummus last week using Rancho Gordo dried chickpeas, I found its expiry date...had expired. Possibly two or three reincarnations ago. It's sole purpose in life was--for me, at least--to make hummus and I've been buying hummus since acknowledging I'm just plain lazy.
Anyway, I picked up a different brand at Publix made in Israel. The hummus in Israel is phenomenal and so I bought Yehuda Tahina.
After deskinning a bazillion cooked chickpeas (a meditative sort of pastime), I cracked open the Yehuda and found it perfectly smooth and creamy. Wow! I tossed everything in the Vitamix and let it rip. Oh, I was using Mark Bittman's NYTimes recipe.
cooking.nytimes.com
The result was thin and insipid.
I added more chickpeas and cranked it up again.
Still insipid.
I added more chickpeas. And then I had to add even more chickpeas. I had cooked a 1 lb bag of chickpeas, but Bittman's recipe only called for 2 Cups, so I had lots of cooked chickpeas here. I also started adding Diamond Kosher salt because all the stupid recipe said was to "add salt & pepper" and the taste profile was definitely flat.
That's I looked up Yehuda online and found this:
www.cookinglight.com
Note this line:
Oh.
Oh bugger.
After the fourth addition, I finally reached a flavor, texture and density that I liked and called it quits. I ended up with 25 oz of hummus and a kitchen that looked like a bomb went off. My regular store-bought hummus (Cedars or Sabra) is 10 oz and I always buy it BOGO. So let's just say I'm going back to being lazy.
Anyway, I picked up a different brand at Publix made in Israel. The hummus in Israel is phenomenal and so I bought Yehuda Tahina.
After deskinning a bazillion cooked chickpeas (a meditative sort of pastime), I cracked open the Yehuda and found it perfectly smooth and creamy. Wow! I tossed everything in the Vitamix and let it rip. Oh, I was using Mark Bittman's NYTimes recipe.
Hummus Recipe • 5★
Hummus is an ideal dip for picnics, parties and everyday snacking. Serve it with pita, chips, crackers or cut vegetables.
The result was thin and insipid.
I added more chickpeas and cranked it up again.
Still insipid.
I added more chickpeas. And then I had to add even more chickpeas. I had cooked a 1 lb bag of chickpeas, but Bittman's recipe only called for 2 Cups, so I had lots of cooked chickpeas here. I also started adding Diamond Kosher salt because all the stupid recipe said was to "add salt & pepper" and the taste profile was definitely flat.
That's I looked up Yehuda online and found this:
Don’t Like Tahini? This Brand Will Change Your Mind
Check the international aisle for the smooth tahini of your dreams.
"Ingredients: water, tahini, chickpeas, vegetable oil, corn starch, salt, garlic powder, and spices. It's a much milder tahini, because it's watered down into a thin sauce instead of a paste."
Oh.
Oh bugger.
After the fourth addition, I finally reached a flavor, texture and density that I liked and called it quits. I ended up with 25 oz of hummus and a kitchen that looked like a bomb went off. My regular store-bought hummus (Cedars or Sabra) is 10 oz and I always buy it BOGO. So let's just say I'm going back to being lazy.
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