Olive Wood Smoked Olive Oil Hummus: Recipe and Simple Uses
I take my time approaching the rows of stainless steel containers called fusti. Each different fusti invites me to pour a bit of its contents into a tiny paper cup, dip a small piece of soft artisan bread, then taste. It’s like speed dating without a clock. Years of unsatisfying relationships with grocery store olive oil are over. Sampling olive oil at the Olive Oasis in Troy, Ohio, (https://theoliveoasis.com/) is both encouraged and necessary.
I dally with many of the store’s 30 single varietal, fused and infused, and gourmet oils from supplier Veronica Foods (http://evoliveoil.com/organic.php), A new infused appeared a few years ago—Olive Wood Smoked (OWS). It became my favorite olive oil “neutral,” replacing grassy or pungent single varietals. The smoke flavor is subtle. I’ve used it in roasted potatoes, green vegetables, meat, poultry fish, lasagna, and gorgonzola mac and cheese.
My favorite easy food to slather, dip, smidge or substitute for mayo is hummus. I like to save calories for dining out, so with the exception of family dinners, entertaining, and holidays, my daily cooking aspirational goal (not always met, I admit) is quick, calorie-conscious food. The following is the recipe I use for OWS hummus and some under 400 calorie meal ideas using it.
Olive Wood Smoked Olive Oil Basic Hummus Recipe
Basic hummus combines garbanzo beans (chickpeas), tahini (sesame seed paste), olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. There are hundreds of hummus recipes. Ingredient amounts vary and can be adjusted for personal preference. I usually use canned garbanzo beans, bottled lemon juice, and minced garlic for convenience. The recipe also includes amounts for cooked garbanzo beans, fresh squeezed lemon, and garlic cloves. The OWS adds a slightly smoky flavor to a traditional base hummus. Other ingredients can be added for savory, sweet, or fruity flavors. (The picture below is a sampling from Jacob’s Oasis, a West Side Market vendor in Cleveland.)
Ingredients:
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (drained, reserve ¼ cup liquid to add) or 2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
3 tablespoons tahini
3 tablespoons OWS olive oil
2 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or juice squeezed from ½ lemon
¼ cup liquid from canned garbanzo beans or ¼ cup water if cooked beans are used (you can add more to adjust consistency)
1 ½ teaspoon minced garlic or 3 cloves crushed garlic
Preparation:
Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend at high speed until smooth (about 1 minute). Refrigerate unused hummus in sealed container.
Time: 10 minutes Yield: 2 cups Servings: 16 (2 tablespoons each)
Pairing OWS Hummus with Nutrition-Packed Foods
Hummus is frequently used as a snack, paired with pita or vegetables. Using OWS hummus with meals is as easy as knowing what you like to eat and have in your kitchen. I aim for pairings that vary in color, flavor, and texture. I focus on foods that pack a nutritional punch like eggs, almonds, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, avocado, and sunflower seeds. Meat can be omitted or used sparingly. Seasonings and garnishes add flavor and color. Here’s a sampling of dishes.
Roasted chicken; tomato slices with OWS hummus, chive, and a drizzle of black mission fig vinegar; cilantro lime rice
Ham, spinach Salad with sunflower seeds and black mission fig and OWS vinaigrette (on the side), hummus with paprika and dipping vegetables
Microwave egg with bacon bits; whole-wheat English muffin with OWS hummus, garbanzo beans and parsley; Greek yogurt with blueberries
Resources for Olive Oil
General Resources
Olive oils are not created equal. Quality of olives, processing, and pureness impact quality. A comprehensive and entertaining read on olive oil is Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil by Tom Mueller, which covers people, politics and history of olive oil, and practical information on quality, selection, and uses.
A useful website for learning about all things olive oil is Olive Oil Source (oliveoilsource.com).
Recipes and Vendors
It’s always better to find a local olive oil source so you can taste oils and support small businesses. If that isn’t possible, there are plenty of online vendors of high-quality oils. Most provide purchasing information and sample recipes. Here are a few. The first one, The Smoked Olive, specializes in in smoked oils (bold, spicy, and light). They offer a spray bottle option, which is convenient for when a small amount is preferable to a pour.
The Smoked Olive (https://www.thesmokedolive.com/about)
Two Olive Trees, https://2olivetrees.org/olive-wood-smoke-olive-oil/
Monadnock Oil and Vinegar Company, https://www.monadnockoilandvinegar.com/store/p78/Olive_Wood_Smoked_Olive_Oil.html
Saratoga Olive Oil Company, https://www.saratogaoliveoil.com/smoked-olive-wood
The Tubby Olive, https://thetubbyolive.com/product/olive-wood-smoked-olive-oil/
