INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 cups sweet basil leaves, packed (yes, this is a ton of basil, but its worth it!)
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed then minced
- 2 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained*
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Up to 1/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt
- Several dashes Tabasco
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
METHOD
- Heat the pine nuts in a small skillet on medium high heat. Stir them when they start to brown. When most of them have lightly browned, remove them from the pan into a bowl to cool. (Reserve a few pine nuts for garnish.)
- In the bowl of a food processor, place the basil leaves and the garlic. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the rinsed and drained garbanzo beans, most of the pine nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, tomato paste, and a few dashes of Tabasco. Pulse several times, for several seconds each time, until the hummus is smooth. Add more Tabasco and salt or lemon juice to taste. Add water to the point of desired consistency.
- To serve, place in a bowl and drizzle a little olive oil over it. Sprinkle with a few toasted pine nuts. Serve with pita wedges, crackers, or rustic bread.
