Flower-ful Feasts
Kale Stem Hummus
Yields: 6-8 servings
1 cup dried chickpeas
1 tsp baking soda
Stems from 1 bunch kale
3 garlic cloves, minced
⅔ cup tahini
1 tsp fine-grain sea salt
⅔ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice water
Extra-virgin olive oil for serving
The night before making the hummus, put the chickpeas in a large bowl, cover them with at least twice their volume of water and leave to soak overnight at room temperature.
The next day, drain and rinse the chickpeas. Put them, along with the baking soda, in a medium-size pot over high heat. Stir constantly for about 3 minutes. Add 6 to 8 cups water until the chickpeas are covered by a few inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pot and simmer until the chickpeas are very tender—45 to 60 minutes—checking on them occasionally to skim off any foam on the surface.
Skim off any chickpea skins that float up as well, but there’s no need to try to remove the skins if they don’t come off. They were softened by the baking soda and will blend smoothly into the hummus. Meanwhile, fill another medium-size pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the kale stems and cook until they are very tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Drain them. Blend the kale stems, garlic and tahini in a food processor, scraping down the sides as necessary until well blended.
Once the chickpeas are cooked, drain them, add them to the kale stem mixture in the food processor along with the salt and lemon juice, and process until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of ice water and process until the hummus is very smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add up to 2 additional tablespoons, one at a time, and process again as necessary.
To serve, spoon into a shallow bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
Note: The hummus can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. After thawing frozen hummus, we might need to adjust the seasoning—taste and add salt and lemon juice as necessary. Also, try this hummus with other scraps like Swiss chard stalks or cauliflower cores. Follow the same cooking method as outlined, boiling until very tender, 15 to 30 minutes.
Recipe courtesy of Cooking with Scraps, by Lindsay-Jean Hard.
