Hummus with Forty Cloves is full-bodied but surprisingly mellow…the secret is a long slow roasting of all that garlic! This conversation starting appetizer is guaranteed to be the hit of your next party!
*This post is in partnership with O Olive Oil
Hummus with Forty Cloves sounds outrageous, but hold on, before you get nervous, this is not an overpowering dish.
I don’t do things by halves. Why should I when I can get such great results by pushing the envelope just a little bit. It’s what makes all the difference between a ho-hum appetizer and a memorable one.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m not a huge garlic fan, so you can take it from me. The garlic flavor in this hummus is deep and rich, for sure, but not pungent because we’re talking about forty roasted cloves of garlic. They’re sweet and mellow, not sharp. I used O California Roasted Garlic Oil in the dish and as a final drizzle on top to reinforce that lovely flavor. It’s one of O’s newer products and I think you’re going to want to down it by the spoonful.
Where to find roasted garlic
You can sometimes find them already roasted in specialty or ethnic markets. They come in little jars or plastic containers, they keep well in the fridge, and they’re super convenient to have around.
But a better idea is to roast them yourself, it’s not difficult and the flavor will be that much fresher and more vivid. It takes about an hour or so, so plan ahead.
How to Roast Garlic
- Slice off the tips from a few bulbs of garlic. Be sure to slice the tip end and not the root end, so the whole clove stays intact.
- I drizzle each clove with a little bit of the Roasted Garlic Oil first, then arrange them cut side up in a small pan, and pop it in a 350F oven for about an hour or so. I cover it loosely with foil so it stays moist and doesn’t burn.
As the garlic roasts it softens and caramelizes so that it is no longer as potent, but just as flavorful.
You can now squeeze out the cloves from their papery skins — be sure to count out forty!
This is a crowd pleasing appetizer that can go from game day to holiday party without missing a beat.
Just before serving drizzle on more of that luscious Roasted Garlic Oil, and garnish with some fresh thyme. Serve with pita triangles, chips, or veggies. This will NOT disappoint!
Want to make your own amazing pita bread? Check out my recipe for How to Make the Perfect Pita Bread!
Hummus with Forty Cloves
Ingredients
- 15 ounces canned chickpeas, (garbanzo beans)
- 40 cloves garlic, or 4 bulbs of fresh garlic, roasted (directions below)
- 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, (1 large lemon)
- 2 Tbsp roasted garlic olive oil, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup tahini
- salt
garnish
- 4 roasted garlic cloves
- fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- If you are roasting your own garlic, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- To roast garlic: Slice the tip end off of each bulb of garlic. Set the bulbs cut side up in a small baking dish or on a piece of foil. Brush or drizzle with the garlic olive oil. Cover loosely with foil and roast for 60-70 minutes, or until soft and caramelized. Set aside to cool. When cool, pinch out the cloves by squeezing from the bottom of the head with your fingers, they'll pop right out.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas really well. Put in a food processor along with forty cloves of garlic --- count 'em!
- Puree for several minutes, scraping down the sides of the machine often, until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the lemon juice and garlic olive oil, and continue to puree, scraping down the sides often.
- Add in the tahini and salt and blend well. Finally, add 1/4 cup cold water and give it a final few pulses. Taste the hummus to adjust any of the ingredients.
- Turn the hummus into a serving dish, smoothing it out with the back of a spoon.
- Just before serving garnish with a few more garlic cloves, a drizzle of Roasted Garlic Oil and some fresh thyme leaves.
Nutrition
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I made it per direction except I roasted the garlic in a crockpot instead of the oven. The consistency is very nice but there is a very bitter taste. Looks like hummus but doesn’t taste very good
My suspicion is that your garlic might have been old Sarah. If it’s old, it can taste bitter. You can tell if garlic is aging because it will develops sprouts in the center of the cloves. That’s the signal to toss it and buy a fresh head.
Simply smooth, superb & subtle! Great flavour and texture. Another one of your recipes, becomes a family favourite. I’m glad I can make this now rather than buying it! Cheers!
I love garlic with a passion, doesn’t matter if raw or roasted. This hummus just made at the top of my cooking list!