I don’t know about you, but I love entertaining and wish I could do it more often. It's just so time consuming and a lot of work! I may host dinner parties sometimes, usually with the help of someone (say for ex., my wonderful boyfriend who cooks up an awesome churrasco) which makes it so much fun, but it’s once in a blue moon.
But having friends over should be easy and fun. Plus, if I'm hosting, I love that I can keep it on the healthy side - a huge plus. So what has become my solution? I invite people over for some wine and a few appetizers. And while of course it’s easier to buy some pre-made hummus and pita chips, it's more special (and healthy!) to make a dish or two of my own.
So I’ve come up with a recipe that I make quite often when I’m having people over, that has been a hit with everyone who’s tried it. (Including my mom who just called me up to ask me again for the recipe!) Also, I can use this dish even if I (or someone else) is on a detox, which makes it even better.
It’s my Zucchini Hummus Recipe:
Note: I often change up the ingredients depending on what I have and what I’m in the mood for. I love to use organic miso and chickpeas (as per recipe card) - not only because they're both amazingly nutritious foods, but also, they both help to boost estrogen levels in females, and that’s personally something I’m working on.
In case you didn't know, Miso is made from fermented soybeans, and has all the essential amino acids, so its a great complete source of protein (for both vegetarians and you carnivores!). Apart from protein, miso is rich in iron, B-vitamins, potassium and calcium. It's also an excellent source of quality polyunsaturated fats, and has been recognized for its ability to lower bad cholesterol. And most important (in my book), because its fermented, it's absolutely wonderful for digestion and for maintaining a healthy gut!
Chickpeas are another of my favorite foods, so rich in fiber (both soluble & insoluble), helpful for a healthy digestive tract, for lowering cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar levels, and even weight loss. They have immune-boosting properties, are rich in iron, and are another great source of plant-based protein.
But I’ve also made a version of this hummus/dip without the chickpeas & miso (great if you're doing a soy-free and bean-free detox), and it’s come out delish, so play with it and let me know your favorite variation!
As a BONUS, here is the "DETOX" recipe that I use if/when I am doing one of my seasonal detoxes (which excludes chickpeas and miso, and is based on just zucchini!):
Love and Easy Entertaining,
Mariana