Hummus of Lentils

 

If you don't like chickpeas, a fundamental legume for making traditional hummus, or you just want to try an alternative recipe for it, lentils are a good substitute option. Even for some, the flavor obtained is superior to that of chickpeas.

INGREDIENTS (4 people)

• 1 cup (200 ml) Egyptian lentils *
• 2 cups of water (400 ml)
• 1 clove of garlic (optional)
• Half a cup of lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons tahini sauce *
• 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• A pinch of black pepper

* In the Middle East, the usual type of lentil is one with a strong orange color and much smaller than european varieties. They are sold dry but do not require washing - perhaps a "preventative" one - or pre-soaking as they soften quickly and lack skin. They can be used in stews although they are usually ready in ten minutes so they have to be added at the end of cooking. Due to the absence of skin and its softness they are used in the preparation of soups and of course, hummus. Orange lentils can be found in shops that sell Maghreb products, sometimes with the inaccurate name of "Egyptian lentils".

If you can't find orange lentils, then try locating skinless lentils, which are sold in many stores. 

We put the water to boil and when it does we add the lentils, lowering the heat to medium-low. While they boil we prepare a paste composed of tahini, olive oil, salt, black pepper, the lemon juice and the garlic clove without the green germ. Tahini pasta is made with sesame. If you do not have it, you can do without it or make it yourself with the help of a handful of seeds that you will go through the mortar. You can also do without garlic if you want.

When the lentils have absorbed all the cooking water, remove and let cool. When cold, they are passed through the shredder until it is fine and homogeneous. Then the pasta that we have made is added and mix well.

It is served by pouring a generous stream of olive oil on top or sprinkled with a little sweet paprika, eaten with bread sticks or Arabic flatbread (saaj, injera or similar type). He is in vice.