Halloween Hummus
Do you know what you’re going to be for Halloween this year? I have no idea. I’ll probably just pull out one of my many vintage dresses and do myself up 40’s style. I know that’s not really a costume since I dress like that all the time, but it’s all I’ve got, so… But more important than the costume is what you’re eating. I know candy is at the top of the list, but there are so many other options. Halloween is on Sunday this year, and since we weren’t allowed to trick or treat last year, let alone congregate in houses, you know there are going to be a ton of parties on Saturday. So, while figuring out your costume is important, what you’re bringing to eat might be even more important.
Spooky desserts are always a great option, but there’s already going to be plenty of sweets… it is Halloween after all. So why not make something savory instead. Something like an appetizer. Apps are always favorites and they’re not nearly as popular. While a cheese or charcuterie board is great, one of my favorites is definitely the crudités plate. Unfortunately the crudités platter seems to be going the way of the dodo. Not only do you have beautiful, fresh veggies, it’s the perfect finger food. It’s easy to grab a celery or carrot stick, dunk it in some dip, and keep moving. No need for a plate or worse yet, sitting and eating. Yes, it’s less messy if you sit with a plate, but if the party’s really hopping, you definitely don’t want to sit down. I like to mingle… or dance and crudités is perfect for that.
Now that you’ve decided on a simple veggie platter, the question is what dip are you going to include? While the classic Lipton’s onion dip is super easy and always a hit, I prefer to go outside the box. One of my favorite dips is hummus! I just love a good hummus. It’s delicious, filling and so healthy! Made from just a few ingredients, it’s the perfect party dip.
Basic beige hummus isn’t very Halloweeny, though. Turn it black and now you’ve got a spooky dip, ripe for the creepy holiday. No, I didn’t use food coloring. I used black tahini! Tahini is a very important part of hummus. A paste made from sesame seeds, tahini is a staple in many Middle Eastern dishes. It’s what gives hummus it’s creamy, nutty flavor. Hummus just isn’t hummus without it. And when I discovered there was a black tahini, I knew I had to use it. It didn’t change the flavor, just the color, and I was all in for it. The end result was a rich, creamy hummus that’s ghoulish enough for this weekend’s Halloween festivities.
Ingredients
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans of garbanzo beans
- 2 - 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup black tahini paste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- plain yogurt
Instructions
- Place garbanzo beans and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and puree.
- While the processor is running, add tahini, salt, lemon juice and olive oil. Blend until smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes. If the consistency is too thick, slowly add a couple tablespoons of hot water while the processor runs. Continue to blend until you reach desired silky smooth consistency.
- Spoon into a serving bowl and add a dollop of plain yogurt for a creepy ghost effect. Serve with pita chips and your favorite veggies.
