Healthy Fall Snack
Creamy, smooth and full of flavor, this hummus is a perfect healthy snack and picture-perfect for your Halloween party!
Roasting the carrots in this recipe creates sweet and caramelized overtones and a beautiful orange color. While hummus traditionally has chickpeas in it, the emphasis on only carrots in this recipe, provides the nutritional power of beta carotene and Vitamin A while creating a rich, earthy yet sweet flavor. You are welcome to add a drained and rinsed can of chickpeas to this recipe for a more traditional version of hummus.
In this version I use an Unflavored oil because I wanted to pair the hummus with other flavors (see an upcoming recipe for using this Carrot Hummus in Tacos), but BE BRAVE and try making this with our Moroccan Spice oil for a little heat or Blood Orange oil for citrusy sweetness, or add a hint of cinnamon along with the cumin in the recipe. It is all delicious and good for you!
So, snack healthy this fall with this hummus and a bowl of veggies or toasted pitas without giving up flavor!
Roasted Carrot Hummus
Ingredients
1 lb baby carrots cut in half
3-4 cloves garlic
4 tablespoon O&V Unflavored EVOO (plus more for serving) – See Chef Note
1 teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons tahini
1 tablespoon chopped parsley or cilantro
1 lemon, juiced
Toasted and salted pepitas or sunflower seeds for garnish
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400F. Toss carrots and garlic with the EVOO, cumin, salt and pepper. Roast for 20-25 minutes (stirring once).
Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Place carrots and garlic in a food processor with the tahini, parsley/cilantro, lemon juice. Process until smooth adding the ¼ cup chilled water one tablespoon at a time until you achieve the consistency you like. Season with salt and pepper to taste
Transfer to a bowl, drizzle with additional EVOO and garnish with pepitas and parsley/cilantro leaves. Serve with assorted vegetables, pita bread or oven toasted pita chips, and crackers.
Serves 4
Active time: 10 minutes Total Time: 50 minutes (including time to cool the cooked carrots)
Chef Note
The Unflavored EVOO helps bring out the sweetness of the caramelized carrots. Sometimes, I substitute with our Moroccan Spice oil for a little more heat and spice or with our Blood Orange oil to add citrusy sweetness.
Notes
* The Unflavored EVOO enhances the sweetness of the caramelized carrots. You can substitute with another high-quality oil. Most high quality EVOO’s (with low acidity below 0.5) will withstand the 400F cooking temperature and remember that better quality ingredients yield tastier and healthier foods too.
Categories: Snacks & Sides, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Carrot Hummus, Appetizer, Fall appetizer, Healthy Halloween Snack, Mediterranean Diet, Easy,
