Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

When I went to summer camp and they served hummus, I had no idea what it was. I definitely had no idea it was made of chickpeas! But ever since then I've always wanted to make my own hummus. I had some red pepper left over in the freezer from Chicken Tortilla Soup a while ago and thought I'd give it a shot.


1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1/4 red pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1 dash salt

I threw the red pepper slice on the George Foreman which I don't know was really necessary but seemed to mellow out the flavor. Toss all ingredients into the Vitamix and start on Variable speed, working your way up to High. Blend for a minute or two, so that the mixture is one uniform color. I had to add a few more drops of olive oil to keep it moving. Serve with pita, snap peas, carrots, etc.

Taste score: 8/10

Likes: I will definitely make this again! The red paper was not too overbearing and the texture was creamy and smooth. Usually hummus is made with tahini but I couldn't find that in the grocery store and this recipe came out great without it.

Dislikes: It's annoying to grill one little slice of red pepper. I'll probably just try garlic next time. Also, unless the hummus is in a sealed container, it starts to harden.

Nutrition score: 9/10

Chickpeas get glowing reviews. They're high fiber, folate and manganese-laden little gems. They help prevent heart disease, lower cholestrol, and stabilize blood sugar.