The Best Paprika Hummus

My love for hummus is quite uncontrollable. I may go as far to say that I'm obsessed. It's the ultimate snacking saviour coupled with a crispy carrot or a warm wholemeal pitta. My friends and I discovered the ultimate pitta at our university gym. It consists of falafel, fresh rocket, cherry tomatoes and a overly generous dollop of hummus hidden at the bottom of the wholesome wholemeal pitta. It is simply the best. This pitta does come at a price though, so it's only ever a special treat after a morning of training and lectures. I've since decided to become more self-sufficient and tried making some hummus for myself. This paprika hummus really is the best. I absolutely adore the beautiful blend of the spicy cumin, punchy paprika, tangy lemon, sweet basil leaves and creamy tahini blended with chickpeas, olive oil and water until superbly smooth. As much as I love plain hummus, I think the punchy paprika kick just gives it the edge. 

Making your own hummus is not only a lot cheaper than going to your local supermarket, but it's a lot healthier too. Shop bought hummus is full of funny additives, vegetable oils and a few preservatives. Another great thing about hummus is that it's mainly made out of chickpeas, which are a great vegetarian protein meaning you'll get a lot of energy from it. It's also packed full of fibre which is essential for a healthy, efficient digestive system. Fibre is fantastic because it distends your stomach, making you feel fuller for longer. Why not try treating it as a creamy dressing to enjoy with my avocado chorizo and quinoa summer salad.

Makes 1 bowl

1 cup or 1 400g tin of soaked chickpeas

2.5 tablespoons of olive oil 

2 tablespoons of water

6 basil leaves

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon of tahini

1/2 teaspoon of cumin

2 teaspoons of paprika (to taste)

2 generous pinches of salt

Method

- It's so simple! Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.

- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge. 

Enjoy!

Prune Brownies

I can't believe that these are brownies. They're gooey, sweet and extremely easy to make with only 6 ingredients. They're the perfect snack for when you're craving something sweet and great for anyone on a gluten free diet.

Prunes are packed with fibre. Therefore, they slow down the absorption of glucose and stabise blood glucose levels. They're also packed with vitamin K which is essential for strong bones and blood clotting.

Many blogs seem to use medjool dates, but they're expensive and not always easy to get hold of. Therefore, I wanted to experiment using prunes and this is what I came up with! 

260g/40 prunes (pitted)

100g pecans 

2 dessert spoons of cocoa powder 

2 ripe bananas 

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

2 dessert spoons maple syrup 

Method

Easy as A, B, C (thanks Michael J). Simply put all the ingredients into a food processor, whiz them up and place into a small, lined baking tray. 

Freeze for 1-2 hours until set. Keep in the freezer for a cool, sweet gooey treat.