Litha 2022: Smokey Sweet Potato and Toasted Onion Hummus
Continuing onward with the preparations for our Litha feast, we are featuring another homemade spread. This time we are making our spin on the ever popular Middle Eastern hummus. The version we are creating for the solstice combines silky sweet potato, rich smoked paprika and savory toasted red onion. Let’s take a closer look at what these and other key ingredients have to offer us.
What are some of the intentions the ingredients embody?
Sweet Potato: While they share a name, the sweet potato is a very distant relative to the common potato and is actually in the same botanical family as the morning glory. They come in a variety of colors ranging from bright orange to white all the way to a vibrant purple. Sweet potatoes are packed with a host of necessary nutrients such as fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and B6. Intentionally, I associate sweet potatoes with fertility, love, lust and balance in life.
Red Onion: Onions are perhaps one of the most prolific and simultaneously polarizing culinary ingredients around; you either adore them or despise them. Composed of primarily water, they do hold some health benefits such as vitamins C and B6, folate, and potassium. Red onions specifically also contain potent antioxidants called anthocyanins, which are also responsible for their purple-red hue. Onions in general are best used in protective spellwork; often being utilized in hex-breaking and banishing of negative energies. I specifically chose red onions in this dish for their association to the element of fire, as well as wanting to draw forth greater and faster action to our ritual work.
Smoked Paprika: This versatile spice is created by drying and grinding red peppers into a fine powder. You will find many different varieties of paprika ranging from mild to hot, however for our dish I chose to use the smoked variety. Smoked paprika has a rich earthy flavor that I find plays exceptionally well with the sweetness from the other ingredients. Additionally, the smoked variety also offers a boost to the already present association to fire that paprika has from being created from peppers. Spiritually, we are using this spice to assist us in breaking down any barriers or obstacles that might arise while we are performing our ritual. Paprika is also going to be helpful in amplifying any intentions we put forth and is directly linked to passion.
Tahini: Tahini is a rich and creamy paste comprised of ground sesame seeds and oil and is one of the key ingredients in making a delicious hummus at home. Sesame seeds are quite good for you if eaten regularly; they offer a good source of fiber and plant based protein, are high in magnesium and zinc, and are rich in vitamin E. Sesame seeds and sesame products are best used in spellwork focusing on fertility, abundance and prosperity, especially in the realm of money drawing. In addition, we are using the sesame based tahini to assist us in opening our mind to new perspectives.
Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans: I saved perhaps the most important ingredient in most hummus for last. Chickpeas (otherwise known as garbanzo beans) give this dish its signature creamy, full bodied texture and earthy taste. Part of the legume family, this humble ingredient has been used in many world cuisines for centuries and boasts quite the nutritional profile. Chickpeas are an excellent source of folate, plant based protein, iron, and fiber. In conjunction with the energies from the tahini and paprika, we are utilizing the chickpeas ability to help with inspiration, breakthroughs and finding creative ways to open new doors for ourselves.
How does this dish assist us with our Litha intentions?
If our last dish ("Spice Up Your Life" Roasted Pepper Spread) was about firing us up and fortifying us for the upcoming solstice journey, the intentions of this dish are all about breaking down any lingering obstacles or doubts, self imposed or otherwise. In the pursuit of what brings us joy, we must be willing to have a creative outlook and an open mind. To achieve this, any physical or mental hurdles we come across have to be overcome. It isn’t always easy or pleasant to push past these barriers because they often come with fear and uncertainty. The intentions you place into these ingredients and this dish as a whole will help to cushion you enough to work through these uncomfortable feelings and assist you to make a breakthrough on what truly brings you joy and ignites your passions.
On a slightly different note, this dish (and frankly all of the dishes in our Litha feast) is an excellent vessel for imbuing with intentions focused on more physical forms of passion such as fertility, lust and love.
Smokey Sweet Potato and Toasted Onion Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, roasted and cooled (fertility, balance, love)
- 1 medium red onion, sliced thinly (lust, action, protection)
- 1 can (15 1/2 oz) chickpeas (inspiration, creativity)
- 1/4 cup reserved aquafaba from chickpeas or water *see note
- 4 Tbsp tahini (prosperity, money, fertility, opening paths)
- Zest of 1 lemon (for garnish)
- Juice of 1 large lemon (joy, brightness, purification)
- 2 cloves fresh garlic (protection, health, strength)
- 1/4 cup olive oil (beauty, prosperity, health)
- 2 tsp smoked paprika (passion, breaking down obstacles, amplification)
- 1 tsp ground coriander (adaptability, positive energy, inspiration)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and prepare a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place sweet potato into prepared baking dish and coat lightly in olive oil and sea salt.
- Place into your preheated oven and roast for approximately 30 minutes, or until completely softened.
- Remove from oven and allow the sweet potato to cool before you peel and mash it. Set aside.
- Place sliced red onion into a non-stick pan coated in olive oil or cooking spray over medium heat. Sauté until the onions soften and just begin to caramelize on the edges. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a blender or food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice on medium speed until fluffy and homogenous.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients and blend on medium-high until completely smooth, scraping the sides of the machine as needed. You may add more aquafaba/water to loosen the hummus to your desired consistency.
- Serve in a shallow plate or bowl; Drizzle more olive oil and sprinkle smoked paprika and lemon zest over the top of the hummus to garnish. Serve with assorted raw vegetables, pita chips, etc as a dip or use as a condiment on sandwiches and enjoy!
Notes
- Aquafaba is the starchy water that chickpeas create when soaked. It can be reserved for use in many recipes and even used as an egg white replacement in baking and cocktail making applications.
