Hummus is a staple food in this house. My fridge feels naked without it, truth be told. And no, it’s not always a from-scratch gourmet situation. I’m not above grabbing a tub at the grocery store, particularly when I make the mistake of shopping while hungry. But when my stomach isn’t roaring and I have the gift of time and forethought, I prefer to make my hummus from scratch. And if I’m feeling adventurous, I like to fiddle with it quite a lot. Not all my hummus adventures are noteworthy. Some of them are noteworthy for less than positive reasons. But today’s Curried Red Lentil Hummus is a winner through and through. So let’s jump right in!
When I shared the teaser for this Shrimp Toast with Green Cocktail Sauce, there were many comments about the uniqueness of my food. I am and was flattered but I don’t think the praise is entirely deserved. This toast, while pretty, is a visual inventory of what was in my fridge at the time of its conception. The green cocktail sauce a desperate attempt to justify buying my weight in tomatillos. The white bean hummus merely an expression of my undying love for, well, hummus. Basically, my brain darts around in a million directions, and I let it. And then I attempt to make it look intentional in the aftermath. It’s all culinary smoke and mirrors.
Today’s Roasted Eggplant with Apricot Lamb Meatballs and Artichoke Hummus represents another successful step in my journey to eggplant appreciation. It’s been a long, fraught road but with each recipe I enjoy, I get closer to making peace with the eggplant. And loving this recipe is, frankly, a no-brainer. It’s hard to deny the charms of lamb meatballs, artichoke hummus, and a tangy lemon yogurt sauce. They could be served together on a boot and I’d still eat them. But I’m getting ahead of myself. You’re probably stuck wondering what the eggplant ever did to me. And if you’re not, fear not, because there’s a Jump to Recipe button located below.
Allow me to introduce you to my current reigning veggie sandwich. I’ve affectionately dubbed this sandwich the Ultimate Veggie Sandwich, which is a title that sounds like it has some weight and permanence. But the truth is this sandwich is my favorite for now. Sandwich loyalty isn’t something I’m known for. I’ve had many a sandwich in my day and most of them have been vegetarian. Cheese is really the main event for me when it comes to sandwiches. Growing up my ultimate sandwich was a toasted tomato sandwich, which is really just a BLT sans the B. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve branched out in terms of my sandwich repertoire.
