black bean hummus

For the past couple of years, Joe and I have been trying to make some changes in the way that we eat and spend money on food.  We were shocked to look back over a month’s worth of expenses and see how much money we spent on food alone, both at the grocery store and eating out.

So, for the sake of good health and saving money, we’ve made a few significant changes.  We try to eat more local, whole foods and a lot less processed food.  We try to save money by purchasing more of our food in bulk instead of purchasing pre-packaged items.  And as our lives and schedules realistically permit, we try to make most of our food from scratch.

Something that helped us was to compile a list of all the different foods we love (and eat very regularly) that also cost us a pretty penny at the grocery store.  We found that most of these foods (about 15-20 different items) could easily be made from scratch and save us a significant amount of money each month in our grocery budget.

For example, one of the foods that we eat all the time is hummus.  This causes a problem since really good hummus can easily cost you $4.00 for a small to medium-sized container.  We typically go through at least one container a week, so that adds up to be about $16-$20 a month…on hummus!  Enter change.

I knew hummus would be fairly simple to make and I also wanted to see how it would taste when made with a healthier bean.  Black beans are the most healthy bean you can eat, and turns out, they make absolutely delicious hummus!

Sam ate three servings yesterday and I think me and Joe ate twenty-three.  This recipe has quickly become a new household favorite.  We spent a small fraction of the money we usually spend and both agreed that this was the best tasting hummus we’ve ever had.  I don’t think we will ever go back to store bought hummus again, it really was that good.  And it only took me about five minutes to make, to boot!

A number of friends asked for this recipe and I’m happy to share. Enjoy!  And please feel free to share any tips you have learned in cutting back on the grocery bill…

Black Bean Hummus

1 Garlic Clove
1 15 Oz Can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Water
Juice of 1/2 a Lemon
1/2 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Salt (we use kosher)
1/4 Cup Cilantro, chopped

1. Place garlic clove in a food processor and pulse for 1 minute.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and puree in food processor until smooth.
3. Serve with toasted pita bread, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies.

Notes:

• When I make this recipe, I usually triple the batch since we go through it so quickly- I recommend doing this if you love to eat hummus like we do.
• Next month we are going to start buying dry beans (and grains) in bulk to save more money- this will make this recipe even cheaper!
• For an additional health benefit, I like to mix in ground flaxseed.