I have issued myself a challenge to try one new recipe from one of my collection of cookbooks each week, at least the weeks I am home. This is not my idea, I’ve read of it in several other blogs. But, it is intended to keep my time  in the kitchen interesting and perhaps outside the usual rotation of meals.

This recipe came from Open Kitchen – Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings by Susan Spungen.

Open Kitchen – Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings by Susan Spungen.

I had been asked to bring a starter for a dinner party and was looking for something different.

Avocado Tahini Dip

Ingredients (serves 6 to 8):

• 2 avocados, quartered and cut into large chunks
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 small garlic clove
• 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
• Few dashes of green hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
• small handful of fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds or dukah
• 1 tablespoon of fruity olive oil
• Sliced fresh seasonal vegetables to serve and/or crackers

Method:

1. In a food processor, with the steel blade, shop the garlic finely.
2. Add the avocado, tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, salt, hot sauce, cumin and pulse to combine. Then process until completely smooth.
3. Add the cilantro and pulse until finely chopped.
4. Transfer to a serving bowl and scatter the seeds over the top, drizzle with the oil.

You can make this several hours ahead. Store it in the fridge and cover with plastic wrap to prevent the surface from browning.

Open Kitchen – Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings by Susan Spungen.

It was a hit. Unfortunately my pictures didn’t turn out.

This is an excellent cookbook with some different and inventive recipes.