Spicy Vegetable Hummus

I concocted this hummus the other day from a combination of garlic hummus recipes here on Zaar. Since I found it kinda bland, I added a few more spices and the vegetables. I used about a 1/2 cup of vegetables in total. You can really use any combination of vegetables that you want: red pepper, red onion, and celery would also be good!

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 1⁄4 cup tahini
• 1  teaspoon  sesame oil
• 1⁄4 cup fat-free ricotta cheese or 1⁄4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  tablespoons green onions, minced
• 2  tablespoons green peppers, minced
• 2  tablespoons carrots, chopped finely
• 1  tablespoon cucumber, chopped finely
• 1  teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄2 teaspoon paprika
• 1⁄4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1  tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped finely
•  black pepper
•  red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mash the garbanzo beans to your desired texture with a potato masher. A fork would also work.
2. Add lemon juice, tahini, sesame oil, and ricotta. Mix well.
3. Combine garlic, spices, and vegetables with hummus mixture (you may want a bit more or less of each of these depending on your tastes).
4. Add black and red pepper to taste.
5. Serve with pita and fresh vegetables. This is a great veggie dip!