Houmous is another Marmite food from my experience. Some of my friends adore it; others detest it. For me, roasted red pepper houmous is a versatile dip or accompaniment for various delicious meals.
If you follow Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count this as free or easily within your allowances, of course always check your plan for advice.
Red Peppers
Being UK-based, when I talk about peppers, it is more often than not bell peppers or capsicums that I mean rather than chilli pepper.
People often wonder why we tend to use red peppers in recipes more than the other varieties… truth be told, red peppers and green peppers are the same, but the red ones have just been left to mature. Green peppers have a strong, fairly bitter taste, whereas red peppers are milder and their flavour much more well-suited to my tastebuds.
Red peppers (actually a fruit!) are packed with vitamin A and C – so, as well as getting something tasty, it’s also great for your body.
Vitamin A works to help your body with vision, the immune system, and it also supports your organs to function well. Although Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the developed world, it is more common in those with cystic fibrosis.
Like its cousin Vitamin A, Vitamin C also helps your body’s immune system. Additionally, it can assist in protecting your body’s cells against free radicals, converting fat to energy, producing collagen and keeping the brain and nervous system functioning well.
Chickpeas
Also called garbanzo beans, chickpeas are an ingredient that has grown in popularity over the past couple of decades (along with avocado!). With a subtle nutty taste and unique texture (can be crunchy, mushy or in between the two), these legumes are a great store cupboard ingredient.
As a vegetarian, I am all too aware of the need to ensure I have enough protein in my diet, as meat-eaters get theirs from meat. Chickpeas are a great source of protein but don’t make the mistake of thinking you need to be veggie or vegan to enjoy them.
Plus, so my family tells me anyway, they make a fantastic side dish for meat dishes, too. They also contain a significant amount of fibre and are reasonably low in calories – a dieter’s dream!
My Roasted Red Pepper Houmous
Whether you are snacking in front of the TV late at night or you are hosting a few friends at yours for dinner, this roasted red pepper houmous will fit the bill perfectly.
Great as a dip for tortilla chips (never take a giant packet into the lounge with you – I’ve made that mistake before – measure out your portion!) or veggie sticks, it also works wonderfully as part of a summer salad.
I love them alongside vegetable kebabs and my family with the lemon garlic chicken kebabs I make them.
Other recipes you might enjoy
If you like dips then be sure to check out my dip directory full of all my tasty dip recipes perfect for any BBQ or party! The selection includes a vegan red pepper dip, spicy lentil dip, coleslaw, tangy chilli salsa and tomato herb and lime salsa.
You might also like to check my BBQ guide and see if there are any new BBQ foods you might not have considered before like falafel burgers, pork burgers, cajun chicken and sticky chicken. I also have a guide to healthy meat choices if that helps too.
If you go to a Slimming World group and need ideas for foods for a taster session or perhaps you are organising a healthy party then this article has lots of good ideas you may find helpful!
A few other recipes I think you will love are:
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Have a good look around and see how I can help you achieve your weight loss goals. Request my free resources to get you started too!
Roasted Red Pepper Houmous
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: Party
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
An easy delicious recipe for roasted red pepper houmous which is a great flavoursome alternative to standard houmous
Ingredients
One 400g can of chickpeas (drained) or equivalent of dried chickpeas, soaked overnight
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 tsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed or from a bottle)
One roasted red pepper from a jar in brine (drained)
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix well. This houmous can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Equipment
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