WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
Hummus is supposed to be all about the chickpeas right? Well, this version turns that notion on its head, keeping the typical flavorings (tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice) but losing the legumes in favor of earthy, floral parsnips. The ideal cooking method for this recipe turned out to be microwaving, which was easy and resulted in flavor nearly as intense as roasting. Just ¼ cup of tahini was enough to stand up to the parsnips without overwhelming the hummus. To round out the flavors, we added warm spices: paprika, coriander, and cumin. Chipotle chile powder and garlic tempered the sweetness of the parsnips, while lemon juice brought the flavors into focus. Look for tender, thin parsnips for this hummus, as large parsnips can turn bitter. Serve with crackers, chips, or crudités.
MAKES: about 2 cups
TOTAL TIME:50 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 pound parsnips, peeled, cut into 1-inch lengths, and thick ends halved lengthwise
- ¼ cup tahini
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- ¾ cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chile powder
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Microwave parsnips in covered bowl until tender, about 10 minutes. Combine tahini and oil in small bowl.
- Process parsnips, water, lemon juice, ¾ teaspoon salt, garlic, paprika, coriander, cumin, and chile powder in food processor until completely smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. With processor running, add tahini mixture in steady stream and process until hummus is smooth and creamy, about 15 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer hummus to bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit at room temperature until flavors meld, about 30 minutes. Drizzle with extra oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve. (Hummus can be refrigerated for up to 5 days; stir in 1 tablespoon warm water to loosen if necessary before serving.)
