Food for Thought: Hummusalsa

What do you get when you put hummus and salsa together? Hummusalsa! You can make your own hummusalsa at home with this week’s recipe. It’s a tasty twist on two popular dips made with ingredients that will help you stay fuller longer.

Hummusalsa is made with garbanzo beans (chickpeas), which are full of protein and fiber. That combination helps control your appetite and aids in digestion. Research shows protein and fiber may lower your calorie intake throughout the day, making hummusalsa great to enjoy as a snack or at lunch time.

Pair hummusalsa with your favorite veggies like carrot sticks, sugar snap peas or broccoli florets for a snack. Or, you can enjoy this dip by adding some to your lunch. Spread a scoop of hummusalsa into a whole-grain pita bread and add a handful of baby spinach or kale.

Check out the full recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 1 (16-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon pepper

• ¼ teaspoon paprika

• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 small, finely chopped garlic clove, optional

• 1 small jalapeño chile, seeded and coarsely chopped

• 1 large scallion, trimmed and coarsely chopped

• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped cilantro

• ½ cup grape tomatoes, halved; quartered if large

• 1/8 teaspoon chipotle chile powder (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine garbanzo beans, lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and garlic in blender or bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade. Puree.

2. Stop the blender and scrape down the contents. Add jalapeño chile, scallion and cilantro. Mince with on/off pulses to finely chop contents.

3. Add tomatoes, then mince again, turning machine on/off two or three times.

4. Scrape hummusalsa into a bowl; mix well. Taste. If more heat is desired, stir in chipotle chile powder. Makes 4 (1/3-cup) servings.

This recipe is brought to you by your health care partners at LVPG Primary Care – reminding you a healthy outside starts from the inside. To learn about LVPG Primary Care or to find a provider near you, visit LVHN.org/primarycare. Ongoing nutrition education is important for your health. Remember to always talk with your doctor should you have any questions about nutrition or your dietary needs.