Hummus Style Brown Bean Paste

Hummus is a Mediterranean dish which has found a lot of popularity in the West. I am not too keen on chickpeas (the main ingredient for making hummus) because I feel it is a bit of an acquired taste. Chickpeas being a legume like the more familiar brown beans, I wondered if the beans might be suitable for making a dish similar to hummus. I tried it out and I love the result. I kid you not, the bean paste is really creamy, good and tasty!!!

I am sure you will find more uses than one for this paste when you try it out...really. It was really good eating on its own as well as serving in a sandwich. I tell you this, my hummus style brown bean paste is excellent to make sandwiches or served as a dip. You've got to try it...

Ingredients:

• 200 g of Nigerian brown beans 
• 1 small size onion, peeled and chopped
• 3 tablespoons of water (perhaps more to adjust the thickness of the paste and aid blending) 
• 50 ml of virgin coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil (oil makes blending easier so choose a really healthy option). Use more or less to enhance the taste and consistency. 
• Chives for garnishing
• Chilli powder or Suya pepper mix 
• Pinch of salt 
• Black pepper 
• Pinch of cumin

What to do:

1. Cook beans with the onion in a pressure cooker until beans are very soft and crumble to the touch. (Do not add any salt at this stage) 
2. When properly cooked and soft, transfer beans into a blender, add water and oil. Also add salt, pepper and cumin. Blend beans and all into a creamy paste. 
3. Serve and garnish with some chopped chives and suya spice.

Hummus Style Brown Bean Paste