Black Bean Hummus

Maybe not the prettiest food, but it's a tasty variation on regular hummus.  I use dried beans because they are cheaper and have more texture and flavor.  Canned ones would work as well if you don't feel like the prep work required for dried.

What you need:
1/2 pound of dried black beans, soaked and boiled OR two 15 ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained.
1/2 head of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped (or more if you REALLY like garlic)
1/2 cup of onion, chopped
1 cup of mixed fresh herbs (I use cilantro, parsley, mint, and sometimes chives)
1 small hot pepper, roughly chopped (optional)
3-4 T tahini (sesame seed paste)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 T apple cider vinegar (you could also try using a different vinegar here)
1 T cumin
1-2 t black pepper
1/2 t red pepper flakes
Water or Olive Oil ( I use water to cut back on fat, but it would be tastier with the oil.  You could also use half of each)

Place ingredients in blender or food processor.  Add 1/4 cup of water or olive oil.  Slowly add remaining water or olive oil until you create a smooth and thick paste.  Enjoy with pita chips, raw veggies, or as a "sauce" for pizza (See my eggplant, feta, and hummus pizza later when I add it).