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Tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanoush & flatbreads: Tastes Like Home

Watch Tastes Like Home on RTÉ One on Mondays at 8:30pm.
Watch Tastes Like Home on RTÉ One on Mondays at 8:30pm.

Watch Tastes Like Home on RTÉ One on Mondays at 8:30pm.

Ingredients

Hummus

  • 120g of tahini paste
  • 60ml of olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp of ground Cumin
  • 1 level teaspoon of salt
  • 3 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed
  • 1 medium lemon juice + zest
  • 1 tin of chickpeas  - retain the can juice & add as needed while the chick peas are being blended

To garnish

  • Olive Oil
  • Paprika

Tabbouleh
Serves: six

  • 140g bulgar wheat
  • 150ml boiling salted water
  • 3 firm plum tomatoes chopped
  • 1 cucumber deseeded and finely chopped
  • 5 spring onions finely sliced
  • 1 lemon - juice of 
  • 3 tbsp of chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 3 tbsp of mint chopped
  • 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste


Baba Ghanoush

  • 3 medium-sized aubergines
  • 1 lemon - juice of 
  • 3 tbsp of tahini paste
  • Glug of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp Cumin
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tbsp of natural yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp of chopped parsley

Flat Bread  

  • 300g plain flour (all purpose flour) 
  • keep extra on hand for dusting & adjusting dough
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 50g butter (1.75 oz)
  • 185 ml milk
  • 1/2 tbsp oil (for cooking)

Method

Hummus

  1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth paste using some of the can juice to loosen the blended mixture if too dry or water if you prefer
  2. Garnish with Olive oil and Paprika

Tip: if you are making by hand simmer the chickpeas for 20 minutes until soft instead so easier to mix.

Tabbouleh

  1. Pour boiling salted water over Bulgar wheat in a large bowl
  2. Covered in clingfilm and allowed to rest for 40 minutes
  3. Remove clingfilm and stir with a fork
  4. Add the rest of the chopped ingredients and the lemon juice
  5. Add all of oil and mix
  6. Check seasoning
  7. Serve

Baba Ghanoush

  1. Roast the aubergines in the oven at 170° for 30 minutes
  2. Remove place in a bowl and cover in clingfilm
  3. Leave for a half hour
  4. Squeeze out the juice 
  5. Carefully remove the flesh from the skin and place in a bowl
  6. Season with 1 tablespoon of salt add Olive Oil, Cayenne pepper and yoghurt
  7. Refrigerate for three hours
  8. Remove from the fridge and check the seasoning
  9. Garnish with a splash of olive oil and some freshly chopped parsley well textiles
  10. Salt to taste

Flat Bread

  1. Combine butter and milk and heat until butter is just melted - on stove or in microwave.
  2. Combine flour, salt, butter and milk.
  3. Sprinkle work surface with flour then knead for a few minutes until it is smooth - it doesn't need much kneading. Add extra flour if the dough is too sticky.
  4. Wrap with cling wrap and rest at room temperature for 30 minutes or so.
  5. Dust bench top with flour, cut dough into 4 pieces, roll into balls, then roll out into about 1/8" / 0.3cm thick rounds.
  6. Heat 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a non stick pan over medium heat - or lower if you have a heavy based skillet. 
  7. Place one flatbread in the pan, cook for around 1- 1 1/2 minutes - it should bubble up then flip and cook the other side, pressing down if it puffs up. There should be a smallish golden brown spots on both sides.
  8. Stack the cooked bread and keep wrapped with a tea towel - the moisture helps soften the surface, making them even more pliable. Continue to cook with remaining pieces.                                        
  9. Optional: Brush or spray bread with olive oil or melted butter, for a more luxurious finish. Or even with melted butter mixed with minced garlic for a garlic butter version!