A twist on traditional: 3 hummus recipes to try tonight

Hummus makes a great snack, that we know.  But sometimes (we have to admit) the original flavor can get boring. Try out these hummus recipes to bring back the excitement of the healthy dip!

Spicy Black Bean Hummus

Whip up this easy and delicious recipe to spice up your next get-together.

Ingredients:

1 garlic clove, peeled
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon tahini (roasted sesame seed paste)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 small jalapeño pepper, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Dash of crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Dash of ground red pepper
1 (6-ounce) bag pita chips

Directions:

1. Place garlic in a food processor; process until finely chopped.
2. Add lemon juice, tahini, cumin, salt, black beans, jalapeño pepper, and crushed red pepper; process until smooth.
3. Spoon bean mixture into a medium bowl, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with ground red pepper. Serve with pita chips.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

Serving size: About 2 1/2 tablespoons hummus and 4 chips. Calories: 148. Fat: 6.2 grams. Saturated fat: .7 grams. Monounsaturated fat: 1.2 grams. Protein: 4.5 grams. Carbohydrates: 20.6 grams. Fiber: 3.5 grams. Cholesterol: 0 milligrams. Sodium: 381 milligrams.

Source: Cooking Light

Cucumber Hummus

Looking for a lighter hummus? The addition of cucumber helps lift this fresh recipe to a healthier status.

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup tahini paste, or to taste
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 cucumber, coarsely chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 pinch paprika

Directions:

1. Place the garlic, tahini paste, lemon juice, and olive oil into a blender or food processor.
2. Blend until the garlic is finely minced, then add the garbanzo beans and chopped cucumber. Puree until smooth, then season to taste with salt and black pepper; blend to mix.
3. Pour into a serving dish, and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend. Sprinkle with paprika before serving.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

Serving size: 2 tablespoons. Calories: 65. Fat: 2 grams. Protein: 3 grams. Carbohydrates: 9 grams. Fiber: 3 grams. Sodium: 6 milligrams.

Source: All Recipes

Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

Is traditional hummus too bland for you? This recipe offers a twist of sun-dried tomatoes to help mix up your hummus options.

Ingredients:

Cooking spray
2 (6-inch) pitas, each cut into 10 wedges
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place pita wedges on pan, and coat with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 6 minutes or until golden.
3. Combine water, tomato, salt, pepper, garlic, and beans in a food processor, and process until smooth. Serve with pita wedges.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

Serving size:  1/4 cup hummus and 4 pita wedges. Calories: 175. Fat: 1.7 grams. Saturated fat: .2 grams. Monounsaturated fat: .5 grams. Protein: 6.6 grams. Carbohydrates: 33.7 grams. Fiber: 4.5 grams. Cholesterol: 0 milligrams. Sodium: 623 milligrams.

Source: Cooking Light