Make Your Guests Comfortable With Pesto Hummus Dip

I just love appetizers.  Especially any kind of appetizer that involves dip for vegetables, crackers, or chips.  Not only do I love eating them, but I enjoy serving them at a party or when we have friends over for dinner because they give your guests something to do when they come in and help dissipate that awkward feeling people may have when they first arrive.  It can also be a conversation starter when they don’t know some of the other people at the party.  And, lastly because I seem to have trouble getting meals on the table in a timely manner, if guests come really hungry, they won’t faint before  I serve dinner.  All of that to say, I am always on the lookout for a really good appetizer, and this last weekend I found one so wanted to share it with you.

This appetizer falls under the category of “why didn’t I think of that?”  Hummus is so delicious, and so is pesto.  I don’t know why I never thought to put them together, but thankfully Theresa at Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen did!  If you love pesto and/or hummus I think you will really like this dip.  It goes especially well on vegetables, but I loved it on pita chips, too.  Another great thing about hummus is that there are quite a few nutritional benefits to eating it.  It is high in protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber.  When eaten with bread or rice, it serves as a complete protein.  But that isn’t why I ate it, even though I do want to be healthy.  I ate it because it has pesto in it!  I can’t resist anything with pesto.

There are a couple of ingredients in this dip that weren’t that familiar to me.  Maybe I have led a sheltered life because tahini and tamari were ingredients that are new to me.  I found them on an aisle in the grocery store where there were organic type ingredients.  But, I think every store may be different.  You could try the Asian food area (tamari is a type of stronger soy sauce) or just ask.  Tahini is a paste of ground sesame seeds so who knows where they might place it.  But I’m sure if you don’t see it, the store employees could look it up for you.  And once you have the ingredients, it is really quick to make. You just grind everything up in a food processor or blender. It is worth the search for these ingredients to make this dip.   Because, like I said earlier, it has pesto in it. There’s nothing else you really need to know.

Pesto Hummus Dip

• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 Tbsp. tahini (sesame paste)
• 1/4 c water
• juice of one lemon
• 1 tsp. tamari
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c basil pesto

1.  Put garlic, tahini, water, lemon juice, tamari, olive oil, salt, and pesto in blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Add garbanzo beans, and pulse until thoroughly mixed and ground up.  Taste and add salt if needed.
3. Serve with assorted vegetables, pita chips, or pita bread.  Makes about 2 cups.

Recipe slightly adapted from Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen