Jalapeño Cilantro Hummus

Ingredients:

1 Cup - Cooked Garbanzo Beans/White Channa Beans

1 Cup - Washed Cilantro

1 - Jalapeno ( Alter them according to te spice level)

1/2 Cup - Tahini Paste

3 Tbsp - Lemon Juice

2-3 Clove - Minced Garlc

1/4 Cup - Yogurt

Olive Oil for Garnishing

Red Chili Powder for Garnishing

Salt to Taste

Procedure:
1) Add cooked beans, garlic, tahini paste, Jalapeno to a food processor and grind them to a smooth paste.
2) Add salt, lemon juice, yogurt and grind them till well combined.
3) Finally add cilantro and pulse till it is blended to the mixture.
4) Garnish with olive oil and chili powder, serve them with any chips, sandwiches and wraps.

Tahini Paste

Ingredients:

2 Cup - Sesame Seeds
1/4 Cup - Olive Oil

Procedure:
1) Toast the sesame seeds till the color changes to light brown.
2) Grind them in food processor along with olive oil till they come to a smooth paste.
Basic ingredients in making Hummus, Tahini Sauce and other Mediterranean recipes.

Warm Homemade Baklava

Ingredients:
For Pastry:
1 pack - Philo Dough
1 Cup - Sweet Cream Butter melted
1 1/2 Cups - Nuts of your choice (Finely Chopped)
1/8 Cup - Sugar
1/8 Tsp - Cloves Powder
1/8 Tsp - Cinnamon Powder

For Syrup:
1 1/2 Cup - Sugar
1 Cup - water
1/2 Cup - Honey
2 Tbsp - Lemon juice
1 Tbsp - Rose Water
ground pistachio to decorate

Procedure:
For Syrup:
1) Add water, sugar, lemon juice, rose water in a pan and boil them to form a syrup.
2) Add the honey mix them well and simmer the stove for 2 minutes.
 (should be of maple syrup consistency)

For Baklava:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring the philo dough to room temperature. Grease 13x9 inch pan with butter.
2) Mix nuts, cloves, cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
3) Place one layer of philo dough. Brush them with the melted butter. Add 3 or 4 more layers of philo dough, brushing each layer with the melted butter.
4) Add the nuts mixture and repeat 4 more layers on top as mentioned in step (3). Cut the pastry into any shape, most commonly squares or diamond shape.
5) Place in oven and cook for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown.
6) Drizzle the warm syrup on the pastry (Pastry shouldn't be too hot or cold. It should be warm). Syrup should be just enough to soak the baklava pieces. Cool completely before serving. Top each piece with ground pistachio.

(Note:
* Any pan can be used. Just make sure you cut or fold the philo dough to the size of the pan you use.

* For making cylindrical shaped baklava, brush two layers of philo dough, add the nut mixture along the length of the sheet and tightly roll them. Cut them into pieces and bake)