Crispy Pita With Chickpeas And Yogurt Fattet Hummus Recipes

Steps:

• For the crispy pita: Pour enough vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot to measure about 1-inch deep and heat to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Cut the pita bread into large 1 1/2-inch squares. Fry the bread in the hot oil until golden and crunchy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• For the chickpea broth: Add 1 can drained chickpeas to a large pot. Cover with 3 cups water, then add the garlic, chile powder, cumin and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and turn off the heat.
• For the hummus: Combine the 3 cans drained chickpeas in a food processor with the tahini, garlic paste, 2 teaspoons salt and the lemon juice. Blend until just combined. With the food processor on, drizzle in the ice water until blended and smooth. Remove 1 1/2 cups of the hummus to an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Add the yogurt to the food processor with the remaining hummus and blend until smooth.
• To assemble: Put the fried pita in the bottom of a 2-quart serving dish and pour over about 1 cup of the hummus cooking liquid, half of the whole chickpeas, all the yogurt-hummus mixture. Spread it in an even layer, then sprinkle on the remaining whole chickpeas (discard the garlic cloves).
• Heat the ghee and olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and fry until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Top the hummus with the pine nuts and oil, then sprinkle with about 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, some parsley leaves and chile pepper.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Brush both sides of each pita round with a liberal coating of olive oil and place all 4 rounds onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle the shredded cheese in an even layer on each pita. Place a single layer of tomato slices on top of the cheese and sprinkle garlic salt over top of each.
• Bake until the bottoms are golden brown and the pitas are crispy, 15 to 20 minutes. Top with fresh basil.

Steps:

• Drain the chickpeas and simmer in fresh water to cover until they are really very soft, usually well over an hour, adding salt only when they are nearly done.
• Beat the yogurt with the garlic and pepper.
• Open out the pita breads and leave them for a few minutes in a very hot oven, or turn them under the broiler until they are crisp and very lightly browned. Then break them up with your hands into the bottom of a serving dish. Pour the chickpeas and some of their cooking water over the bread, soaking it thoroughly, keeping out a few chickpeas to decorate the dish.
• Pour the yogurt mixture over the chickpeas.
• To garnish, crush the mint leaves over the top. Fry the pine nuts in the butter or oil until they are a light brown. Sprinkle these and the extra chickpeas over the yogurt. Some people like to sprinkle on hot ground chili pepper or chili flakes.
• Serve at once, while the chickpeas are hot and the rest is lukewarm.
• A Damascus version called tasseia has the chickpeas crushed with a pestle and mortar and mixed with 2-3 tablespoons tahina, the juice of 1/2 lemon, and 1 crushed garlic clove. You can put this in a blender with a little of the cooking liquor. Squeeze a little lemon juice in the chickpea water before sprinkling over the bread, spread the mashed chickpea cream over the top, and cover with yogurt, then garnish as before.
• Instead of toasting the bread, some people like to cut it into triangles and deep-fry them in hot oil, then drain the pieces on paper towels and carry on as above.
• An old version of this dish is made with lamb's trotters, which give a deliciously rich flavor and texture to the stock.