Hummus topped with Ground Beef, and Flat Bread

Ingredients:

for the Hummus

1 1/4 cups of dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and cooked for 2 hours OR 2 small cans of cooked chickpeas.

3/4 cup tahini (sesame butter) or sunflower butter

2-4 lemons, juiced

4 garlic cloves

salt, pepper

special equipment: food processor.

Instructions:

1. If you are using canned chickpeas, empty the contents of the cans into a small sauce pan, add another cup of water, and cook until boil, lower the heat and continue cooking for another 5 minutes on a simmer.

2. drain the chickpeas, keeping the water.

3. place all the ingredients into a food processor, adding about 1/2 cup of the chickpea water, and run for 2-3 minutes.

4. taste and correct flavor/texture by adding water, lemon juice, garlic salt and pepper. You my also add cumin.

For the Beef

1 pound ground beef (or chicken or turkey)

1-2 onions

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch nutmeg

1 tablespoon freshly chopped mint

1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley

1 tablespoon olive oil

for the bread:

for garnish: 2-4 tablespoons pine nuts, optional

Instructions:

1. Warm up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet, and finely chop your onions.

2. sauté onions in oil on medium heat for 3-4 minutes, until soft.

3. Place ground beef in a large bowl and add the pepper, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt. using your hands, mix the contents of the bowl until spices are well incorporated in the meat.

4. Add the ground beef to the skillet, and break it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. lower the heat and continue cooking for about 10 minutes.

5. Add the chopped herbs and toss.

6. remove from heat.

for the Flat Bread, we will make 1/2 of this recipe:

For Assembly:

take one flat bread, spread a spoonful of hummus on it, two spoonfuls of the spiced beef, and some toasted pine nuts if using. serve with a fresh Israeli salad.