[Recipes] Easy Hummus with Shiitake Mushrooms
Mar 21,2024 | Yu Taie Trading
We fell in love with Hummus during our food sourcing trip in North Africa back in 2015. Hummus is a common dish as a dip for flatbreads, veggies and protein within the Arab Community.
Why is Hummus so amazing?
Other than the taste and aromatics, Hummus packs a punch in plant based protein from chickpeas. It's perfect for a mid-day boost to stave off hunger pangs which might cause overeating. It does also contains fibre and nutrients, and did we mention, it is so yummy?
Asian Rendition.
It's not easy to find a good hummus in the stores, which led us to Chef Benson, who has kindly agreed to recreate a recipe using Shiitake Mushrooms to boost the nutritional content and taste with it's umami flavour, since Shiitake Mushrooms are easier to be found here, compared to the other part(s) of the world.
Why Shiitake Mushrooms?
Shiitake Mushrooms has a history traced way back to the cretaceous period, which is one hundred million years ago. Boy, are they an ancient food. In ancient Japan and China, they are regarded as a super food for the royals.
In the modern days, it is commonly grown in Japan, China and S.Korea. Often used in soups, braised and / or stir- fried dishes.
One of the most outstanding compound of Shiitake Mushrooms, has to be Lentinan, which is exclusive to this variety. Now, Lentinan is able to boost our immune system and stave off infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites, not only that, it is also an approved Anti-Cancer Drug in Japan, that helps prolongs life and reduces tumor size.
Amazing, ain't it? Alright, let's get cooking.
Easy hummus with Shiitake Mushrooms
| PREP TIME | COOK TIME | TOTAL TIME |
| 15 mins | 15mins | 30mins |
There are 3 components to this recipe, once prepped, just assemble them together. For the Tahini, if there's excess, store it in a tight lid jar in a fridge.
A. Tahini (one of the ingredients for Hummus)
- 1 Cup of White Sesame Seeds
- 2- 4 tablespoons of oil (avocado, grapeseed or olive oil)
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Toast the white sesame seeds on medium-low heat, stirring often, until they take on a light golden color.
- Allow it to cool, process the seeds in a blender or food processor until it is crumbly
- Add oil and process until it is smooth. Depending on your preferred consistency, the thicker it is, the lesser the oil is used.
- Set it aside.
B. Hummus
• 1 can organic chickpeas, drained (reserve 100ml of chickpea water)
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice (juice of 1/2 lemon)
• 60g tahini (see recipe below)
• Salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
• Olive oil, for topping
Instructions
- Blend together chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, salt, and black pepper.
- If the mixture is not smooth, add chickpea water gradually until desired consistency is achieved.
C. Mushrooms
Ingredients
• 2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more if needed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 200g Japanese shiitake mushrooms
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
• Salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. In a dry pan, sauté mushrooms until browned.
2. Add olive oil, garlic, and thyme. Continue sautéing until mushrooms are soft.
Assembly
1. Once both components are prepared, assemble the dish by layering the sautéed mushrooms on top of the hummus.
2. Drizzle olive oil over the assembled dish as a final touch.
3. Serve and enjoy!