- 1/4 cup packed fresh flat-leafed parsley sprigs plus 2 to 3 additional sprigs
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- two 19-ounce cans chick-peas
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2/3 cup well-stirred tahini
- 2/3 cup water
- 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Accompaniment:spiced pita toasts
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a blender or small food processor purée 1/4 cup parsley with 1/4 cup oil. Pour mixture through a fine sieve set over a bowl, pressing hard on solids, and discard solids.
- In a small baking pan toast pine nuts and cumin seeds, stirring occasionally, until nuts are golden, about 10 minutes.
- In a colander rinse and drain chick-peas and in a food processor purée 1/2 cup with garlic until garlic is finely minced. Add tahini, water, lemon juice, salt, remaining chick-peas, and remaining 1/2 cup olive oil and purée until smooth. Recipe may be prepared up to this point 3 days ahead. Keep hummus and parsley oil chilled, covered, and pine nuts and cumin seeds in an airtight container at room temperature. Bring parsley oil to room temperature before using.
- Strip leaves from additional parsley sprigs. Divide hummus between 2 shallow dishes and smooth tops. Drizzle hummus with parsley oil and sprinkle with parsley, pine nuts, and cumin seeds.
- Serve hummus with pita toasts.