On a trip to Jerusalem, I had the chance to explore a nearby neighborhood and stumbled upon a small store called Moshe’s Hummus. With no one else inside, I decided to enter, and being the sole customer before noon surprised me. Roy, the owner, was at the restaurant when I ordered a dish of hummus with tahini. Much to my delight, it tasted amazing. As I savored it, I had the chance to chat with Roy and his remarkable story mesmerized me.
Roy’s plan was always to pursue a career in software development as his passion for technology resided there. However, eventually, his plans changed and he found himself starting a hummus business, an opportunity he never considered initially when his beloved grandfather, Moshe, passed away.
Moshe had acquired a reputation in town for being an excellent hummus creator, owing to his secret recipe & adhering to the traditional approach of preparation. From a young age, Roy was closely observing his grandfather in the kitchen, gaining knowledge about the craft of hummus-making & understanding its cultural significance.
Moved by his grandfather’s passing, Roy chose to abandon his tech career and launch a hummus business to honor Moshe’s memory. This was an unexpected decision, but it allowed Roy to pay respect to his roots and keep Moshe’s legacy alive.
Roy was aware that it would be a challenging journey to make an impact in the world of hummus in Israel due to the high competition level. Nevertheless, he was resolute in doing his best to honor his grandfather and make a name for himself.
Roy began his hummus venture by providing it at local farmers’ markets and catering events. As word about the unique, yummy taste of Roy’s hummus became well-known, the demand for it skyrocketed. He soon developed a strong customer base that supported him and enabled him to grow further.
He opened a humble hummus store in the city center with decorations of his grandfather’s pictures and classic influences on the design. The store was an immense success, gaining huge attention from all hummus fans in the area.
With the growth of his business, Roy was loyal to his grandfather’s recipe & technique while stressing using only the finest & most excellent ingredients. To give it the same flavor as his Grandfather’s recipe, he added some secret ingredients to his cooking which were found in an old recipe book belonging to Moshe.
Roy’s hummus business has been very successful and he is proud to carry on his grandfather, Moshe’s legacy.
Roy is truly passionate about hummus-making and feels fortunate to be able to share it with people. He cannot imagine doing anything else in life & has found his calling in this endeavor.
After some initial reluctance, Roy agreed to share one of his recipes with me since I wasn’t going to use it for any competitions. I couldn’t believe how easy this hummus with tahini recipe was! To try it for yourself, here are the straightforward instructions you can follow:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried chickpeas (smallest size available)
- 1/2 cup tahini
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1-2 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp + 1/8-1/4 tsp baking soda
- Salt to taste
- Olive oil
- Parsley (optional)
How to make simple hummus with tahini?
- Place the chickpeas on a plate and remove any broken pieces, small stones, or other foreign objects.
To prepare chickpeas, start by rinsing them multiple times until the drainage is clear. Let them soak in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and water for at least 8-10 hours overnight. After rinsing, submerge the grains in tap water and leave them for a few more hours. They should absorb most of the liquid and expand to twice their original size. - After rinsing the chickpeas again, place them in a big pot and add water & some baking soda but no salt. Let the chickpeas cook until they are soft enough to be mashed between your fingers, usually taking around 1 to 1.5 hours. When cooking, it is important to change the water once and discard any foam or peels that rise to the top. After the chickpeas are cooked, you should strain them and save their cooking liquid for later use.
- Place the chickpeas in a food processor and blend until it forms a soft & creamy consistency. Make sure to let it cool before further use.
- Place the tahini and other ingredients in a food processor and mix until you reach the texture you desire. If the hummus is too thick, adding a bit of previously saved cooking water can soften its consistency. This will help ensure that it reaches the desired thickness when it is done.
Serve with some good olive oil and chopped parsley.
Even though this hummus recipe is easy to make, it certainly packs a punch of flavor. Don’t be fooled by its ease of preparation – give it a try and your guests will be admiring your hummus just like Roy does when he serves his homemade version!
I hope you enjoy the recipe. If you are a true hummus lover, you must give it a try!
