Hummus (Chickpea & Tahini Purée)

If using canned chickpeas, drain them, reserving the liquid, and rinse them. If using dried, cooked chickpeas, drain them and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.

Purée all the ingredients in a food processor until very smooth, adding the reserved liquid as needed. You should have a medium-thick paste (if it's still too thick, thin it more with water). Season with salt. Transfer the hummus to a shallow bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with cayenne. Serve with pita bread or raw vegetables.