Michael Solomonov's Hummus-Masbacha
INGREDIENTS:
1 lb dry chickpeas
1 tbsp baking soda
1 whole head of garlic with the skin on, plus one clove with the germ removed
Approximately 4 oz of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 lb unhulled sesame paste
4 oz grape seed oil
6 oz extra virgin olive oil (preferably from Turkey or Israel)
1/4 cup Italian parsley, chopped
Kosher salt
Ground cumin
DIRECTIONS:
To make the hummus, cover the chickpeas and baking soda with at least double their volume of water and soak, refrigerated, for 18 hours.
Drain the chickpeas and rinse thoroughly in cold water.
Place the chickpeas in a large pot with the whole head of garlic and cover with water.
Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to low.
Simmer the chickpeas over low heat for approximately three hours, or until very tender.
Drain the chickpeas, reserving one cup of the cooking liquid and one cup of whole chickpeas.
Discard the garlic bulb.
In the bowl of a food processor, add 12 ounces of the sesame paste and the cooked chickpeas.
Puree the mixture with the grape seed oil and two ounces of lemon juice, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
Season to taste with kosher salt and ground cumin.