Potluck Dinner: How to Make Your Own Hummus and Where to Source the Ingredients in Beijing

There are a lot of things I miss here in Beijing, decent skincare, “normal” toilets, and my friends and family of course. But MOST of all I miss my home cuisine, and the ingredients that are easy to buy in Western supermarkets. I wanted to recreate some foods that my family in Beijing misses, share my recipes, and where to get the ingredients. If you see a blond lady on a bike with a toddler and bags of groceries, that’s me, on the hunt for little pieces of home.

I will start this new column with an easy recipe that I really miss, made from mostly supermarket-bought ingredients. Hummus is a simple recipe and the ingredients are easy to source in Beijing.

Chickpeas and tahini (sesame paste) are easy to find at the international stores like Jenny Lou’s and April Gourmet. Fresh basil, pine nuts, and pitta bread are available at the Sanyuanli Market. If worse comes to worse buy a jar of pesto, just don’t tell anybody.

Beijing Basil Hummus with Pitta Chips (serves 4)

• 1 can of chickpeas, drained, keep some of the juice aside
• 1 tablespoon of tahini
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of roasted pine nuts
• 1 bag of fresh basil
• 4 slices of pita bread

Instructions

1. Blend the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, basil, pine nuts, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a food processor
2. Season with salt and pepper, and add some of the chickpea juice if its not creamy enough
3. Cut the pita bread in triangles and toss in the rest of the olive oil and salt
4. Roast the pita triangles in the oven on 180 degrees Celcius for around 8 minutes or until golden brown, turning them after 4 minutes
5. Serve and dip!

If you're looking for more recipes from China and abroad then check our full list of recipe blogs here.

This article first appeared on our sister website beijingkids.

Photo: beetsperminute.com