HUMMUS (a popular meze throughout the Middle East, including Turkey)

Ingredients:
- 1+1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice ( = 1 large lemon)
- 1/4 cup well-stirred tahini
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- Salt to taste

*Serving:
- Paprika powder
- Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:
1) In the food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process for 30 seconds more
2) Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then process another 30 seconds or until well blended
3) Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl, then add remaining chickpeas and process until thick and quite smooth
4) Taste for salt and adjust as needed
5) Serve hummus with a drizzle of olive oil and dash of paprika
6) Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one week