Hummusapien

“I don’t wanna classify you like an animal in the zoo”

Theme song by Pete Shelley “Homosapien” from Homosapien
Listen on Spotify
Listen on YouTube

Listen to the More Recipes About Music & Food Spotify Playlist

The Buzzcocks are one of those iconic yet somehow underappreciated late ’70s pop-punk bands. Just aggressive enough to satisfy the pogoing mosh pits, but hooky enough to almost be radio-friendly. Kinda goofy, full speed ahead, teen angst-driven songs with usually the perfect sing-a-long chorus, they were the UK version of The Ramones without the goofy NYC punk schtick. They also likely influenced countless ’90s and beyond pop-punk bands and, yes, I’m looking squarely at you Green Day and Blur.

This is why Pete Shelley’s solo foray into synthpop on Homosapien is, to say the least, confusing. Suddenly the gritty guitar-driven pop-punk is replaced by, dare I say it, “dance floor jams.” The theme song here is perhaps the most famous example of the disconnect. Acoustic guitar, synth lines, and a drum machine underscore Shelley’s lyrics about gay equality. It’s interesting to note three things about this song. First, it was written in 1976 as a potential Buzzcocks song (which would have been a VERY different single). Second, it was recorded in one day with producer Martin Rushent, who would later go on to produce The Human League (which likely explains the synth-driven sound). Third, it’s the perfect retro-pop name for a hummus platter.

Anyone who owns a food processor is a sucker to buy hummus. It requires no cooking skills and homemade is always better than store-bought. It also allows you the option to customize and experiment. I generally have at least a pint of hummus in my fridge at all times. Technically hummus must be chickpeas, but I have also used white beans, black beans, and even edamame (not that great) as a base. After many experiments, I can say with certainty I am Team Chickpea when it comes to hummus.

Beyond the bread and hummus, I prefer something salty, something pickled, and a spicy/savory protein. My salty almost always defaults to cheese. Asiago here, but parmesan, mozzarella, and manchego are also great choices. Pickles are pickles. Choose the ones you dig. These are homemade dill pickles a.k.a. Dill Communication. Finally, the protein component. For this, I’m using some seitan pepperoni and five-spice deli seitan because it’s what I had in the fridge. If you’re more carnivore-leaning, salami, ham, or turkey would go well here.

HUMMUSAPIEN
Hummus two ways, toasted flatbread, dill pickles, Asiago cheese, pepperoni seitan, five-spice seitan, carrot, and cucumber
Makes 1 platter, enough to feed 2 people

Red Pepper & Miso Hummus (see recipe below)
Basil Hummus (see recipe below)
Dill Communication pickles
Pepperoni & five-spice seitan
Asiago cheese
Cucumber slices
Carrot sticks
Toasted flatbread

RED PEPPER & MISO HUMMUS
Makes about a pint

15-ounces of chickpeas, reserve aquafaba
3 tablespoons miso
1 roasted red pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Put chickpeas & 1/4 cup of the reserved aquafaba in a food processor. Pulse until roughly smooth.

Add miso, red pepper, garlic, lemon juice, and black pepper. Blend until thoroughly combined. Drizzle in olive oil until smooth texture. Blend until completely smooth.

BASIL HUMMUS
Makes about 1 pint

1 cup loosely packed fresh basil
1 1/4 cup chickpeas (reserve either cooking water or the water from the can)
2 cloves of fresh or roasted garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (to taste)
1 tablespoon miso
1/4 cup olive oil

Put everything but the olive oil in the food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Let it run until everything is combined. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Keep the processor running until smooth  The longer it runs, the smoother the final product will be. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.