Caramelized Onion Hummus

This is the hummus recipe I've been making lately. I combined several recipes that I thought looked "good" for this one that is "great"! The caramelized onions are what MAKE this! Mmmmm....If you've never tried hummus before or tried some that you just didn't like, give this one a try. My kids love it! Even my 10-month old! And you can feel good about what's in it. No preservatives like some of the ones you buy premade and you can control the salt. I want to try adding roasted red peppers to this recipe sometime. I think that would be very tasty! FYI: Tahini is a sesame paste made from ground up sesame seeds. You can buy tahini in the grocery store in the 'health food' section often by the natural peanut butters or at a health food store. One jar lasts a long time. I just keep it in my fridge. You'll definitely want to get some tahini to make your hummus. It makes all the difference! Serve hummus with fresh veggies and/or pita chips, smooth on a pita or tortilla and pile with your favorite veggies for a sandwich, or eat it by the spoonful! I like to add a spoonful on top of my salad instead of dressing. It's delicious! As a side note: For another way to use tahini--mix equal portions of tahini with natural peanut butter and use on sandwiches or to dip apples. It's really good!

Caramelized Onion Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans (chick peas), drain and rinse
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, diced
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini
1 Tbsp. tamari or soy sauce (or to taste)
1/4-1/2 tsp. salt (to taste)
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/4 tsp. coriander
1/2 tsp. sesame oil, optional

Saute onion and garlic in the olive oil until onions are caramelized. Set aside. In food processor or blender mix garbanzo beans, caramelized onions and garlic, tahini, lemon juice, tamari (or soy sauce), sesame oil, and spices. Blend until smooth. (The blender makes it more smooth and creamy but takes a lot more work!) I usually don't add more olive oil than the tablespoon I use to saute the onion but you can if you want. If it seems a little too thick I usually just add a tad bit of water. Adjust seasonings if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.