This may just be my new favorite snack. I can’t seem to stop eating it! Which is a-OK by me, since this recipe is completely guilt-free and chock full of super nutritious ingredients. Carrots and chickpeas make this a veggie- and protein-packed snack, with plenty flavor from an awesome combination of lemon juice, garlic, honey, and Sriracha. Om nom nom nom nom. This could not be easier to make. Throw some carrots and garlic in a food processor (or blender, as long as you grate the carrots first), and process until finely minced. Add some cooked (and drained and rinsed) chickpeas, lemon juice, Sriracha, honey, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Blend together some more, and gradually add water until the hummus reaches the desired texture. That’s it! One thing that makes thus hummus unique is that it does not use tahini (a sesame paste similar to peanut butter found in traditional hummuses). This makes the hummus lighter- almost fluffier- since it’s less dense without the thick tahini paste. If you really want to add it, be my guest! Rest assured: this recipe is absolutely delicious without it. I have to say: I am so happy I took the time to make this over the weekend. I have a whole big container of it sitting in my fridge that somehow has managed to survive the constant nibbles I kept taking out of it while I was taking these photographs. But truth be told, I am in desperate need of a bit of a detox after having pizza twice three times this weekend (don’t act like you’re not impressed…), in addition to a smorgasbord of delicious food at a barbecue this afternoon. But as someone who is usually very careful to eat well-balanced meals made of mostly real food, this has been a bit much for my body to handle. Now, at the end of the weekend, I’m craving vegetables and healthy foods (one of the perks of eating mostly real food is that you begin to crave things like leafy greens instead of chocolate cake. Don’t scoff- I’m serious! Well, mostly serious.). And since snacking is one of the easiest ways to eat unhealthy things, it’s so helpful to have healthy snacks on hand, like this hummus. To be honest, I really hate the word “detox” when talking about food- it brings to mind things like juice cleanses and the like. (To be clear, I am not on board with juice cleanses. The day I willingly take solid food away from my life is the day I say that Pitch Perfect 2 was a horrible movie. It may be fine for some people- just not for me! Also, go see Pitch Perfect 2. It’s awesome.) Many times, people will “detox” by eliminating multiple “bad” things from their diet for an extended period of time. I like to think of detoxes as adding good things to your diet. More veggies. More plants. More real food. This by nature causes you to eat less of the bad stuff- and even eliminate it- without putting a negative connotation on it. Because it’s human nature to want what you can’t have. If I tell you you can’t have chocolate cake, you’ll want chocolate cake. But if I tell you you should eat this hummus, you will (because it’s delicious) and you won’t want the cake after! Especially because the hint of sweetness will satisfy your craving for sweet! Trust me. It’s reverse psychology. Or, don’t trust me. Either way, make this hummus because it’s good for you and ridiculously tasty. So next time you are looking for a healthy snack to keep around to stop you from eating bad snacks, or for something fun to add to your sandwiches (like veggie wraps), or for a delicious appetizer for a party, do yourself a favor and make this five-minute hummus. You won’t regret it! If you like this recipe, you’ll love this “hummus” made with frozen peas- a 5-minute pea purée.
