Spiced Carrot and Chickpea Hummus

The sherry vinegar gives this hummus its distinctive flavour. If you don’t have it, use a good quality red wine vinegar.

INGREDIENTS

500 grams carrots, peeled and sliced
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 x 400 gram tin cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2-3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
mint

METHOD

Boil the carrots in a saucepan of well salted water until tender. Drain well.

Put the olive oil, paprika, rosemary and garlic in a saucepan and place over a very low heat for 5 minutes to infuse the flavours. Don’t let the garlic get brown or it will be bitter. Add the cooked carrots and turn to coat in the oil. Reserve a few of the carrots and chickpeas for the garnish then put the remaining carrots with all the oil, the chickpeas and the sherry vinegar in a food processor. Season well and pulse to form a coarse paste.

To serve: Place the hummus in a serving dish. Chop the reserved carrots and combine with the chickpeas and mint. Scatter over the hummus and drizzle with a little olive oil and freshly ground pepper. Makes about 2 cups

Mixed dip platter: Serve with Spiced Carrot and Chickpea Hummus and Avocado, Basil and Broad Bean Dip.