This week's French Friday with Dorie recipe is hummus. This dip was blessedly quick and easy to make by blending together chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. The hardest (and most expensive) part was finding the tahini - which I eventually did in the Jewish food section at the supermarket.
This hummus tasted good, but it would have been a whole lot cheaper just to buy it ready made. Next time, I'd leave out the garlic - I feel that it made the hummus a little too sharp. Also, I am left with a jar of tahini - any thoughts on what to do with it?
To see what the other Dorie cooks thought, visit the LYL section of the website.
On a totally different note, I went to the launch of the book Fashion and Flemington at Leona Edmiston's GPO Boutique last night. There were adorable little red velvet cupcakes:
and cocktails:
and for a lucky couple of people, there were prizes:
As for me, along with my copy of the Fashion and Flemington book (which was included in the entrance price), I got to buy a stylish Leona dress at 20% off and chatted to Amber Petty without knowing who she was until later on. And if you want to know, she was absolutely charming.
All in all, it was a girl's dream evening.
I've always wanted to try making hummus!
ReplyDeleteThe dress is fantastic! Maybe you should have a fashion blog too?
ReplyDeleteI think the only thing I use tahini for is hummus...now that you have it, you could make more and perfect the recipe!
This was easy - thank goodness...
ReplyDeleteTahini... I like to use it in recipes where nut butter is called for - like cakes, etc. Or throw a couple of tablespoons bit into a batch of yeasted bread - its yummy :-)
I would suggest typing tahini into the search engine on David Lebovitz's blog for suggestions on how to use up your jar, I seem to recall that he has several.
ReplyDeleteNice job with the hummus! There are a lot of recipes for cookies and bars in the web that use tahini. Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun evening!!! I'd love one of those cupcakes :) Glad you found some tahini...I've only used it in hummus, so like Cher's suggestions.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to check out The Splendid Table's website for Tahini ideas. Lynne's often suggesting ways to use it that I've never thought of.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! No way I'm spending money on anymore tahini when there's just as delicious (and easier) store-bought brands.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great evening you had. I love the Red Velvet Cupcakes. Sorry, I don't have any suggestions for tahini - I have only used it in hummus.
ReplyDeletesounds like a great night! I couldnt pick out any garlic in mine! Still hunting for something to do with all that tahini!
ReplyDeleteLove those Red Velvet cupcakes!! Your hummus looks delicious…I do think homemade hummus is much better than store bought! I have used tahini mixed with molasses as a spread for bread. Very delicious!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great fashion party! And gorgeous cupcakes! As for hummus, it looks great. It was so easy. Tahini also makes a great salad dressing. You can find recipes on the web. It's also used in baba ganoosh if you're in an eggplant frame of mind.
ReplyDeleteCannot help you with the tahini. All I could find was big jars so I made just enough for the hummus. And now there are sesame seeds EVERYWHERE!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun event!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the garlic! I thought I had just added too much.
There are tones of things you can do with tahini...use it in marinating chicken or in salad dressings or even make cakes and cookies or you can always make more hummus or other bean dips. Whatever you choose I am sure it's gonna turn out great. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of with you on this one. I am happy you asked for help with the tahini - I don't have anything else to use it for. But - my guests really liked it at least!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great evening! If you thin the tahini with olive oil, it makes a great sauce - you can add what you like and use it with meat or vegetables.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the tahini hints folks!
ReplyDeleteI had fun with the hummus as well and thank you for letting me know where YOU found it (JEWISH section...) since Nana hooked me up with the ingredient this time. But my family wants more!! Had to chuckle because I did a quick review of "about me" and then googled Fashion and Flemington to find you were talking about Australia and not the little town in NJ where I grew up and worked until college. Still a small world. Now I want a cupcake......
ReplyDeleteI love hummus and make it at home every now and again (I often put in only a little garlic and add more only if needed) - and I love tahini and have to always have it in my fridge (I usually find it in the health food section of the supermarket)
ReplyDeleteI love these chocolate tahini biscuits - http://gggiraffe.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/healthy-biscuits-interesting-buildings.html - if you want a recipe recommendation - I also often put a spoonful of tahini in a stew to thicken it up and make it more creamy. I have quite a few tahini recipes on my blog if you do a quick search - but I think it is an acquired taste so I suggest going easy and using just a little and adding it to taste.
The only thing I have ever done with Tahini is make hummus with it...and the jar lasts forever. Wait, there is a dressing recipe that Ina makes that has it in it, and I made that as well. Love putting things into hummus...sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions, herbs, olives, even pickles...combos are endless so I can usually use up a jar fairly easily. LOVE love love the dress...I can so see that on you. Nice event indeed.
ReplyDeleteI just couldn't bring myself to make this since none of us like chickpeas or garbonzo beans is what we call them. That red velvet cupcake is adorable.
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