Hummus bi Tahini - Chick Pea Spread

Hummus bi Tahini is a simple delicious healthy chick pea spread.  Recently when we were at the new upscale Pittsburgh restaurant, Opus, they served hummus bi tahini and olive spread with bread as appetizers.  So it is healthy and chic.  Use it on pita bread, French bread, foccacia, and so forth, as an appetizer or with a meal.  It is really easy to make.  

    
The two main ingredients are chick peas, also called "garbanzo beans," and tahini.  Tahini is a paste similar to peanut butter in consistency; it is made from sesame seeds. It is probably available in your local grocery store, definitely in a Mediterranean specialty foods shop.

Our favorite recipe has ingredients not found in the typical Middle Eastern cookbook.  However, it is really good.

Combine all the ingredients listed below in a food processor and puree until smooth, about 2 or 3 minutes.

Ingredients:
1  15 oz. can of chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained -
      reserve the water
2  tablespoons of the water in which the chick peas were packed
2  tablespoons of tahini (sesame seed paste) - note:  if the oil has
      separated from the paste, stir it in until smooth and
      homogenized.
3  tablespoons of plain yogurt
2  tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
2  tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1/4  teaspoon of ground cumin
1/4  teaspoon of salt (preferably ground sea salt)
1  garlic clove, minced

Put the spread in a small serving dish, such as a rectangular terrine or small soufflé dish.  Dribble a little extra virgin olive oil over it, and decorate it with a few stripes of ground paprika.  You could also garnish it with a sprig of parsley, mint, or French sorrel.  Refrigerate the tahini until ready to serve.