As I am sitting here, contemplating which direction I should steer for this weeks article, I am happily munching on an utterly delicious snack consisting of carrots, cucumber slices and the star of the show... my homemade hummus. I have been a vegan for nearly a year and I can quite confidently say that hummus has become a staple in my diet.

If anyone is unfamiliar with the dish, it is a creamy and savory dip made from chickpeas (packed with vitamins and nutrients!) that goes incredibly on toast or over a veggie burger and especially yummy dipped with vegetables.

While hummus from the store is just as delicious, homemade hummus offers that same savory satisfaction at a fraction of the cost. The primary ingredient in this dish is a singular can of chickpeas, which costs you less than a dollar at any given grocery store. Making this yourself is significantly more cost-effective than the upwards of $6 option from the grocery store, especially when you're a college student on a budget!

To make this, you take a blender or a food processor or even using a fork, mash the chickpeas into a paste. This paste can be as smooth or as chunky as you would like! To do this, all you need to do is add a generous amount of lemon juice (the acidity brightens and lightens the flavor of this dish), 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil for creaminess and salt and pepper! Additional seasoning is encouraged!

Playing around with spices allows you to change and customize the flavoring of your hummus. I love adding paprika or cumin for a bit of heat, garlic powder for a more complex flavor and a little dijon mustard for a delicious after taste. This is the portion of the recipe which truly allows you to customize and change things based on your own preferences, something that you would not be able to do with any store bought brand.

The best part of being able to make your own hummus is also that you are serving as your own quality control center. Other brands of hummus might use artificial flavorings or chemicals to lengthen shelf life through artificial preservatives. These brands also typically over salt, making it less of a healthy option.

Hummus is a fantastic pair with so many different options of food. Having it readily available to use makes it easier to experiment with what you like and what you don't like! One of my favorite healthy snack options is to put avocado and hummus on top of the bread of your choosing, topped with veggies. I used cucumbers here, but tomato slices or bell pepper slices work just as well!