Crowder pea hummus

When I picked up our vegetables this week, there was a different type of pea in it than the purple hull we’ve been getting. One of the farmers said they were crowder peas, and gave me a few ideas to use them, including hummus. That turned out to be great advice since they were pretty similar to chickpeas. The color isn’t pretty, but the recipe I adapted from gave it a nice flavor.

Now for one of the worst pictures to appear on my blog (granted, the screen has totally died on our camera, so I’m shooting rather blindly):

Crowder Pea Hummus, adapted from this recipe

2 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 small or one large clove garlic
3-4 cups crowder peas, simmered about 30 minutes until tender
1/4 cup olive oil
1/8-1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/8-1/4 cup cold water
Salt and pepper to taste

Strip rosemary leaves from stems, discard stems, and place leaves in the bowl of a food processor. Add garlic and pulse until finely chopped. Pour in the peas and a little water; process until evenly blended.
With food processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil, scraping sides of the bowl as necessary. Pour in balsamic vinegar and process until evenly blended. Taste, and add more vinegar, 1 tablespoon at a time, as desired. Pour in the water and process to make a spreadable consistency. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.