Authentic Middle Eastern Hummus

3 cups dry garbanzo beans

1 TBS table salt

1 pinch baking soda

3/4 cup tahini paste

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, or more to taste

1 large clove garlic, minced, or more to taste

1.

In a large bowl cover garbanzo beans with water enough for the beans to double add salt and soda let soak over night. Place beans and water they soaked in and more water to cover the beans at least 1”in a pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer over medium heat until the beans are very soft but not mush, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

2.

Drain the beans, reserving some of the water to use later. Reserve a small handful of the whole beans for a garnish. Transfer the rest to a food processor or blender or if you have a hand blender. Add tahini paste, lemon juice and garlic cloves and blend until smooth, Add some of the reserved water if needed to help it blend.

3.

Spread the hummus into a flat serving dish and garnish with the reserved beans and a drizzle of olive oil.