Hummus

Hummus is an amazing dish. It's cheap to make, full of protein, healthy, vegan and can be taken in all directions with the addition of different spices and herbs.

Here is the definitive basic recipe for hummus.

Serves 6

Ingredients
250g dried chickpeas
10g baking soda
2 cloves garlic, crushed
275g raw tahini
the juice of 1-1,5 lemons
1 teaspoon salt
1 sprig flat leaf parsley
selection of toasted seeds -we used equal quantities pine nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds
olive oil

Method
Soak the chickpeas for a minimum of 12 hours in water with 5g of the baking soda. Drain off the water and bring the chickpeas to a boil with fresh water and the remaining 5g baking soda. Ensure that the chickpeas are covered with at least a 3cm layer of water. Once boiling, cover with a lid and simmer over a low heat. The chickpeas are ready when they start to fall apart, about 45 minutes but don't be alarmed if it takes double the amount of time.

Drain the chickpeas but make sure you save all the cooking water. Allow to cool slightly and blend the chickpeas in a food processor. Add the garlic, raw tahini, and the juice of 1 lemon. Blend for at least 10 minutes in the food processor. Add small amounts of the reserved cooking liquid to thin the hummus. Make sure to leave it a little thicker than the creamy puree it will eventually become.

Season with about 1 teaspoon salt and a little extra lemon if necessary. Only when the hummus is perfectly seasoned, then you can thin it down for the last time with some of the reserved cooking liquid.

If you're not going to eat the hummus immediately, store covered in the refrigerator. Taste the hummus before your serve it. It will most likely need a little extra salt and lemon juice and a touch of the cooking liquid to get the right consistency.

Smear the hummus with the rounded part of a spoon neatly on to a plate. Make crator in the middle. The trick is to hold the spoon still while your turn the plate. Garnish the hummus with parsley leaves, the toasted seeds and olive oil.

You can also garnish with cooked chickpeas, parsley and paprika powder, slow cooked pulled beef or hard cooked eggs.


Tuscan Bread

Ingredients

1st Fermentation
35 g yeast
1 Tbsp flour
125 ml lukewarm water

1250 g flour
500 ml lukewarm water
pinch of salt

Method
1
1st fermentation – Dissolve the yeast in 125 ml lukewarm water. Add 1 tablespoon flour and leave to rise.

2
Place the flour in the bowl of a mixer, add the fermented mixture and the remaining 500 ml water. Add a little more water if necessary to get a soft but not sticky dough.

3
Mix all together and knead for 5 -10 minutes to a small ball.

4
Shape into an oblong and wrap in a cloth dusted with flour, leave to rise for 1 hour.

5
Carefully remove the bread from the cloth and place in a baking tray dusted with flour.

6
Bake in an oven, preheated at 180°C for about 50 minutes.


Summer Drinks

With the weather heating up, we're getting more interested in light and refreshing drinks.

What we like is to start with a cordial or syrup. This is an intense flavoured base from which to begin building your drinks. Think different seasonal fruits that bring colour and flavour; rhubarb, lemons and plums for example.

Once you have a cordial base, this should keep well in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Now get creative. Mix the cordial with water (still or sparkling), ice cubes and then an array of fruit  and herbs to garnish. Think of a garnish the complements the main ingredient. Let your imagination run wild.


Marie-Stella-Maris Archives

In 2010 the United Nations declared access to clean drinking water and sanitation to be a basic human right (Resolution 64/292).

Resolution 64/292 inspired the creation of MARIE-STELLA-MARIS in 2011. MARIE-STELLA-MARIS strongly believes in the idea of taking care of one another and spreading creativity, personality and style to realize our social objectives.

Through sharing our personal interests and by offering a broad range of water and care products they aim to change the life of others. For each product purchased, MARIE-STELLA-MARIS donates a fixed amount towards clean drinking water projects worldwide.

The MARIE-STELLA-MARIS Archives store in Amsterdam is a must visit.

For more information please visit MARIE-STELLA-MARIS