The Mighty Garbanzo Bean

I have been using my steamer like crazy for nearly two years, I have added steamed food to my diet because I am not and may never be ready for a totally raw diet ( I will do a future blog about steaming). A raw food diet is reported to be the healthiest diet, but it is said that steaming come in as a close second. Unlike cooking steaming does not destroy the nutrients that your body needs.
I began experimenting with steaming my beans, and I use the same method that is used when you steam rice. Place the beans in a bowl of water (after soaking them over night 12-24  hours, this activates the life in the bean and release the nutrients that are hidden in this powerful food) and allow them to steam until they are done.
I started experimenting with the garbanzo bean, because I was getting tired of lentils, navy, and pinto beans. Now when I started eating the garbanzo, I had no idea that this bean was so powerful nor did I know that this bean was the major ingredient in hummus. Before I share my recipe for my "Ghetto Hummus" let's take a look at the garbanzo bean and its nutrients:

Provide phyto-nutrients

flavonoids

function as an antioxidant

they are anti-inflammatory

give the body energy

good for the heart

provide muscle building protein

provide dietary fiber that is insoluble and undergoes a conversion into short chain fatty acids in the large intestine that support the digestive tract

In other words they are an excellent food that helps protect as well as feed the body vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are needed.

I cooked some garbanzo beans and happened to look them up on the internet and found out they were the main ingredient in one of my favorite foods, hummus. So I steamed some garbanzo beans with onions, garlic, and miso soup. When that was complete I decided to puree it in my blender and to my surprise a nice tasting hummus came out. Here is the recipe for those that want to try this healthy treat.

Ghetto Hummus

a bag of garbanzo beans (soaked for at least 12 hours, this allows the beans that you are using to come a live, or as I like to say "activate the axe'")

half an onion 

a garlic clove

Miso

seasoning ( I used Braggs aminoes, and spike)

Place beans in your steamer, or pot if you are going to boil them and place enough water to cover the beans.

add the onion, and the garlic, and miso and steam or boil, season to taste

Once the beans are complete pour beans and soup that forms into blender

allow to puree until smooth

and eat

This hummus can be used as a vegetable dip, sandwich spread, on salads, and anywhere else you would like. I used the hummus and made a burrito with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. It is yours do what you want with it.

Nuff said

Peace, good eating, and 1hunidyears