Lentil Hummus

Photo: flickr user Charles Haynes

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil plus

more for garnish

1 small carrot peeled, diced

1/2 Spanish onion diced

3 garlic cloves chopped

1 small celery stalk diced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - (to ½)

1/2 cinnamon stick

5 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 cup brown lentils rinsed, picked over

1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves

(or 1/2 tbspn dried rosemary)

4 cups water

1 teaspoon honey - (to 1 ½)

(depending on how sweet you like it)

1 tablespoon sesame tahini

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

1/4 cup chopped scallions for garnish

Preparation

Place a medium-size saucepan over medium-high heat and when it is hot, add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the carrot, onion, garlic, celery, pepper flakes, cinnamon stick, and 2 tablespoons of the cilantro, stirring well after each addition. Cook until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the lentils, rosemary, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the lentils are very soft and the mixture is thick, about 1 1/2 hours.

Remove the cinnamon stick and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the honey, tahini, salt, and black pepper. Transfer the mixture to a food processor fitted with a steel blade and puree until completely smooth. Place the mixture in a fine-wire-mesh strainer and strain into a bowl, pressing with the back of a wooden spoon. Discard the solids.

Place in a serving bowl and drizzle olive oil over the top. Garnish with the remaining 3 tablespoons cilantro and the chopped scallions.

This recipe yields about 1 cup.

Comments: Serve this as a dip with pita toasts or crudites or as a spread for a grilled swordfish or salmon sandwich.

Wash lentils in a colander or a strainer under cold running water. Be sure to get rid of any pebbles and dust - keep rinsing the lentils until the water runs clear.

Yield: 1 cup