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
Hummus is an ideal dip for picnics, parties and everyday snacking Serve it with pita, chips, crackers or cut vegetables In this hummus recipe, adapted from "How to Cook Everything," tahini is essential, as are garlic and lemon
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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