Artichoke Hummus Recipe with Hazelnuts & Fresh Mint

Afternoons were always the worst time of day. In the past, noshing turned from a healthy snack into about four handfuls worth of calories that could be considered a full blown meal. Cheese and crackers, then a few more cheese and crackers, maybe a cookie, then bites of the previous night’s leftover dinner. My goodness, that had to stop! When I began my health and weight loss journey, the afternoon snacks were the first thing I tackled. Small portions of dips such as artichoke hummus, full of dietary fiber and healthy protein, paired with vegetables or whole-grain crackers are what I need to keep me satisfied until dinner.

This hummus isn’t just about the artichokes and chickpeas. Toasted hazelnuts and fresh mint lend layers of flavor that make this dip something special. Besides dipping in vegetables at snack time, I also use this hummus as a spread on sandwiches. Roll it up in a whole wheat tortilla, along with strips of red bell pepper and a handful of spinach, or layer it on whole wheat toast with some cooked turkey breast and cucumber slices.

The recipe:
Place the toasted chopped hazelnuts in a heavy-duty blender or the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the hazelnuts are finely chopped.

To the blender, add quartered artichoke hearts, artichoke water (from the can), garbanzo beans, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Blend until artichokes and garbanzo beans are finely chopped, scraping down the sides as needed.

With the motor running, slowly pour in olive oil. Blend until smooth.

Transfer the dip to a medium-sized bowl, and stir in parsley and mint.

Serve with crackers and fresh raw vegetables.

Other healthy dips:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Edamame Dip with Smoked Paprika & Garlic
Cookin’ Canuck’s Spicy Black Bean Dip with Roasted Red & Chipotle Peppers
Two Peas and Their Pod’s Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip
Family Fresh Cooking’s Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus with Crispy Chips
eCurry’s Roasted Tomato & Lentil Dip

Tagged as: appetizer, artichoke, Beans, chickpeas, Dip, garbanzo bean, healthy, hummus, legumes, mint, parsley, recipe