Vitamix Healthy Spicy Red Pepper Garlic Hummus Recipe

Spicy Garlic Pepper Hummus
This recipe is adapted from Vitamix Creations Recipes.

Enjoy with sliced celery, carrots, bell peppers, or spread on a pita, add tomato and lettuce for a healthy sandwich. Its also wonderful with Stacey's Sea Salt Pita Chips! Add more hot pepper flakes to adjust the heat :)


Vitamix Healthy Spicy Red Pepper Garlic Hummus Recipe

1 - can garbanzo or chickpeas, drained --reserve liquid in a small bowl or cup.
juice from one lemon
1/4 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes OR 1/2 tsp of chili paste
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 piece (approx half pepper) - jarred, roasted red bell pepper
1/8 cup sesame seeds, *toasted on the stove for a few minutes
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove

*toast sesame seeds in a nonstick pan until golden. You do not have to toast them, but it gives the hummus a deeper flavor.

Place all ingredients into the Vitamix Blender; Secure lid. Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to 10, then to high.  Blend on high, using the damper to push ingredients into the blades.

If making this in a food processor. Buy Tahini at your grocery store. It is in the whole foods/organic section near the peanut butter. Tahini is pureed sesame seeds. A standard blender or food processor will not puree the seeds the same as the Vitamix. This should work in a blendtec or a ninja food processor.

For even deeper flavor, try a roasted garlic clove.

For a fancier hummus -- Top hummus with a little drizzle of olive oil, a dollop of chili paste, and some refrigerated garlic. Makes a great dish to bring to a BBQ, pot luck, or party. Pair with pita chips, pretzel chips, carrots, celery, bell pepper, tiny tomatoes, or snap peas.

Too Easy Lemon Berry Pie (using cream cheese, jell-o, and cool whip)

1 small pkg Rasberry or other flavor jell-o
1/3 cup hot water
3 Tbsp lemon juice
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
1 container cool whip original
1 lb fresh strawberries, sliced
1 shortbread ready crust

Dissolve jell-o using hot water. Add lemon juice and cream cheese. Using an electric mixer blend cream cheese with the jello. Once blended, mix in cool whip. Pour half into pie shell and spread evenly. Top with strawberries. Cover with remaining half and decorate with berries. Chill for a few hours or freeze for 1 hour.