The baskets of Easter candy are trying to lure me into the pantry. But I won't go. They can't make me. To resist their persistent beckoning, I am turning my mind to healthy snacks, such as my newly found loves, No-Bake Carrot Cake Granola Bites and this hummus, spiked with one of springtime's wonders...asparagus.
And I'm determined to make at least two or three of my favorite Recipes for Leftover Easter Ham. Grilled cheese, sweet potato hash, crepes...if I can find a way to work ham into the recipe, I'm doing it!
Back to the hummus. This healthy dip take mere minutes to make. The only extra step compared to making traditional hummus is blanching some asparagus for a few minutes. When I was rewarded with the bright green color and distinctive taste of asparagus, I decided that few extra minutes were well worth it. Served with whole wheat crackers or vegetables, this healthy snack is one way to ward off those darn Easter baskets.
A few scenes from Easter:
For those of you who celebrate Easter, I hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends.
After months of downright freezing weather, we rejoiced when the sun alighted on our backyard and warmed us up to deem the day as "shorts weather". We started things off with our traditional Hot Cross Buns. It simply wouldn't be Easter morning without them!
The Easter Bunny got rather creative this year. As the boys get bigger, the eggs are hidden in increasingly higher spots. Next year we may need to equip them with rappelling harnesses!
The morning ended with some father and son bonding time...way up high. This was one of many trips up to the top of the swing set yesterday. The best view in the neighborhood!
Now on to the recipe.
The recipe:
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Prepare a bowl filled with ice water.
Add the asparagus pieces and cook until the asparagus is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Just before the asparagus is finished cooking, scoop out 1 tablespoon of the cooking water and set aside. Drain and immediately plunge the asparagus into the ice water to stop the cooking.
Transfer the asparagus to the bowl of a food processor, along with the garbanzo beans, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, reserved cooking water, cayenne and salt. Process until the ingredients are well combined.
With the processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Process until smooth.
Serve with crackers and/or raw vegetables.
Other healthy snacks:
Cookin' Canuck's No-Baked Carrot Cake Granola Bites Recipe {Low Sugar & Gluten-Free}
Cookin' Canuck's Low Fat Granola Bars with Bananas, Cranberries & Pecans Recipe
Family Fresh Cooking's Mixed Berry Yogurt Parfaits
She Wears Many Hats Sweet Potato Chips
Elana's Pantry's Vanilla Fig Bars
Asparagus Hummus Recipe for Healthy Snacking
Ingredients
- ¾ pound asparagus cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 14 ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained & rinsed
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon tahini sesame paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon asparagus cooking water see instructions
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt or more, to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Prepare a bowl filled with ice water.
- Add the asparagus pieces and cook until the asparagus is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Just before the asparagus is finished cooking, scoop out 1 tablespoon of the cooking water and set aside.
- Drain and immediately plunge the asparagus into the ice water to stop the cooking.
- Transfer the asparagus to the bowl of a food processor, along with the garbanzo beans, garlic, tahini, lemon juice, reserved cooking water, cayenne and salt. Process until the ingredients are well combined.
- With the processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Process until smooth.
- Serve with crackers and/or raw vegetables.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Barb
This is among the best hummus I have ever tasted. Enjoying a smear on baguette right now!
Kristi Rimkus
I'm really enjoying the variety of hummus recipes I'm seeing lately. They're such a nice change from the standard version of hummus.
Nutmeg Nanny
Treat filled holidays like these leave me begging for a healthy snack, this asparagus hummus looks like it hits the spot, yum!
Deborah
This is so unique - I have got to try it!!
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
Dara,
All winter long I've been picking up hummus for the males in the household while my son is at sled hockey practice. [Costco is right down the road from the rink, and an hour away from our home, and judging by the way they plow through hummus, the giant vats are a good deal for us.]
And all winter long I've been seeing great hummus ideas all over the internet.
And now, it's Spring (really, this time) and I can play with all the flavors I've been dying to try.
Thanks!
Kari@Loaves n Dishes
I don't just have an Easter basket of candy, but a drawer of Easter candy; which, so far I've not resisted.
I love this spring time twist on hummus, even the color says spring!
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain
This is exactly what I needed to get ready for summer! Can't wait to make this recipe! BTW…brilliant idea in using the asparagus!
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
I love how vividly green this is! Yay for asparagus season! 🙂
Sally
I meant "Cute family you have Dara" 😀
Sally
That hummus looks amazing! I will be making it to feature on my blog in the next few days with a link back to you. I have been following your delicious blog for a couple years and just this spring realized you live in Utah! So do I. 🙂 Thanks for the healthy inspirations. I just started my blog the beginning of March. Cute family, you have Darla.
Sally
Sandy, Utah
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
Oh my goodness, this is amazing. I heart asparagus and would never have thought to make hummus out of it. PERFECT!
Nancy@acommunaltable
Awww... your boys are adorable... hubs and I were just talking about how we miss having the boys bound out of bed to look for their Easter baskets... (sigh). Me? I'd totally bound out of bed for this hummus!! bookmarking to make ASAP!!
Kary
I am excited to try the asparagus hummus recipe! My husband does love himself some hummus! And I have two bunches left from Easter dinner we did not cook! Yay! Love your recipes too! We did try the spaghetti squash & apples salad. Great accompaniment to our ham & asparagus. Quite. Colorful meal!
ashley - baker by nature
Wow, this hummus is so vibrant and bright! I would totally take this over Easter candy any day!
Paula - bell'alimento
I am nutso for asparagus so I know I'd lurve this!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
I love the colors! I'm such a dipper that this is right up my alley!