Roasted Garlic Hummus

To save time, roast the garlic in advance while preparing other roasted vegetables or dishes in the oven. Roasted garlic can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container covered in olive oil for up to one week.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 large head garlic
3 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
115-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 T. fresh lemon juice
1/3 c. tahini
3 T. water
1 t. ground cumin
½ t. cayenne pepper
Sea salt, to taste

To serve:
Fresh vegetables: Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and/or celery
Kalamata olives
High-quality extra virgin olive oil
Smoked paprika, for garnish

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut the top off garlic head and drizzle with a small amount of olive oil. Wrap in aluminum foil and place in pre-heated oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

Add remaining olive oil, chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, water, ground cumin and cayenne pepper to a blender or food processor. Once cool, remove roasted garlic cloves from outer skin and add to the container.

Season with sea salt, to taste, and blend until smooth. Add more water, if necessary, to achieve desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired.

Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Serve immediately with fresh vegetables and Kalamata olives. Enjoy!