Black Bean Hummus

If you're a diet freak like I am (i.e., you love READING about diets, not doing them), you've come across the "Blood Type Diet." Since I'm blood type A, that means I should avoid garbanzo beans. (Don't ask...I have no idea why.) But....since I've been eating hummus daily since I trashcanned the animal protein, I wondered whether one could make hummus with some OTHER kinda bean.

Well! the first actual non-garbanzo hummus heading on the google page was THIS recipe. By all accounts (also on the website--more reading, no actual experience yet), it's BETTER than the traditional kind. See? "Launch out into the deep...."!)

Black Bean Hummus

* 1 clove garlic
* 1 (15 ounce) can black beans; drain and reserve liquid
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice
* 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
* 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 10 Greek olives

1. Mince garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Add black beans, 2 tablespoons reserved liquid, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, tahini, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add additional seasoning and liquid to taste. Garnish with paprika and Greek olives.

(Type A's are supposed to avoid olives, too. quel dommage! pas moi, etc.)

Also, this makes a LOT of black bean hummus...if you add another can of black beans, it makes even more!! By playing your cards right, you can find black beans for about a buck a can. So....this costs LOTS less than the ready-made hummus in Whole Foods or Marvelous Market. And you can add little things as you like (parsley, more salt/lemon/garlic) and come up with your very own DEFINITIVE homemade hummus!!

snappy hacking....(oops...happy snacking)