Hello!

I love hummus (I haven’t met many that don’t) so I am always looking for ways to make a great version at home. I have made really wonderful hummus from dried beans but it takes forethought and time, which doesn’t lend itself well to a quick, pull together meal. So I was really intrigued to find this version which cooks canned chickpeas in their canning liquid in the microwave. I really didn’t understand the science behind it but tried it anyways – turns out you can make really good hummus from canned beans! Someone commented on the original post with details on why this works:

“Chickpeas are high in a starch called amylose that forms large crystals as it cools after cooking, leading to a grainy texture. But exposure to high heat will break the crystals down. There’s no risk of the grainy texture recurring once the hummus is refrigerated, as the oil it contains will coat the individual amylose molecules, inhibiting crystallization. If your goal is to make the smoothest possible dip, then give your chickpeas a quick zap before pureeing.”

I am not sure if this holds true for cannellini beans too but I still followed the same procedure. If nothing else, it cooks the garlic at the same time, and I prefer the tamed down, cooked garlic flavor. I adjusted some of the other seasonings from the original posting – less tahini and more olive oil, lemon juice and salt. If you aren’t sure what you will like, just start with less and add more to taste.

I hope you enjoy this hummus as much as I have!

Easy White Bean and Kale Hummus
makes 2-3 cups

Recipe notes: 1) this recipe is also great with canned chickpeas; 2) I used 8 ounces of kale and it was more than I wanted to add to the hummus – but you may find you want to load it up, so add to your hearts desire!

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can of cannellini beans, NOT drained
• 2 to 4 peeled garlic cloves, depending on how garlicky you like it
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon table salt
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 4 to 8 ounces kale, de-stemmed and finely chopped
• Roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes or hot peppers for garnish

Directions:

• Microwave undrained beans and whole garlic cloves in a mixing bowl for 4-5 minutes. Add to blender or food processor and process with lemon juice, salt and tahini. Stream in 1/4 cup olive oil while mixing. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. You can eat it directly but I like it best after it has been refrigerated. It thickens up and the flavors meld.
• When ready to serve, heat remaining olive oil in a 12″ skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the kale and cook, stirring often, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir desired amount into the hummus. Serve with pita, crackers and/or cut up veggies.