Make Hummus Like Ya Ya’s with Olives and Feta

Make Hummus like Ya Ya’s Restaurant. With grilled pita wedges and topped with Kalamata Olives and Feta Cheese. A very delicious twist on your favorite hummus dip.

Healthy hummus. It usually doesn’t rate high on the excitement level for me. Oh sure, I buy it quite often for a healthy snack for dipping raw vegetables, and I like it just fine. On a couple rare occasions I’ve drug out the food processor and made my own. But a recent visit to Ya Ya’s restaurant and found me grabbing for canned chickpeas the next time I was at the store to make hummus at home..

Ya Ya’s Euro Bistro is located in the heart of the Denver Tech Center, a large business complex on the south side of Denver. DTC, as it is commonly called, is also dotted with upscale housing and restaurants.

Ya Ya’s is one of those restaurants and it’s a wildly popular dining destination. Chic decor, a cozy and lively atmosphere, fresh tastes and artistic presentation, the food is a culinary experience and the service is great. It’s an over the top appropriate place to entertain a client for lunch, celebrate a birthday, and with a Wine Spectator accredited wine list, a sought after selection for a special dinner.

They’ve created an oasis for their patio area, which overlooks a pond where you can relax to the sound of a soothing 20-foot water feature. Lined with trees and bushes, you hardly notice you’re surrounded by office buildings.

A couple of weeks ago, I invited a client to join me at Ya Ya’s for lunch. For an appetizer we ordered Ya Ya’s Famous Grilled Pita and Hummus. I loved it so much I wanted to try and recreate it at home. They’ve taken a hummus recipe and from what I could tell, simply folded in some feta, chile oil and dotted it with Kalamata olives. Served with warm and soft pita wedges that have a crunch here and there from a toss on the grill, this was really a treat. Just start with your favorite tub of hummus from the grocery store or make hummus at at home. I like Ina Garten’s recipe below. Simple and easy to follow.

I’m sure Ya Ya’s makes their own pitas. The package I purchased at the grocery store just didn’t measure up. A little dry, a little “cardboardish”. Next time I make this I’ll stop by Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill  here in Highlands Ranch and buy a package of their thick spongy pitas.

Before we get to this recipe, if you love to make hummus like I do and looking for more simple hummus recipe ideas, you won’t won’t want to miss:

• Hummus with Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Hummus with Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
• Hatch Chile Spicy Hummus Dip

Make Hummus Like Ya Ya’s Restaurant with Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese and Grilled Pita

Even with the sub-par pitas, this was a great appetizer.

I hope you give this Ya Ya’s Restaurant Hummus a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.

Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite hummus recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

Print

Ya Ya's Grilled Pita and Hummus

Course: Appetizer

Servings: 8

Author: www.highlandsranchfoodie.com

Ingredients

• 1 large clove garlic
• 2-15 ounce cans chickpeas drained, liquid reserved
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/3 cup tahini sesame paste
• 1 lemon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 lemon
• 6 tablespoons water or liquid from the chickpeas
• 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
• 1/2 Cup Feta Cheese
• 1/4 Cup Assorted Kalameta Olives
• 1 Tablespoon chile oil

Instructions

1. Turn on the food processor fitted with the steel blade and drop the garlic down the feed tube; process until it's minced. Add the rest of the ingredients (through olive oil) to the food processor and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste, for seasoning.
2. Pour mixture into a bowl and fold in Feta cheese, chile oil and olives. Top with additional feta and olives. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to three days in the fridge. Serve with warm or grilled pita wedges.

3. Adjust seasonings and add more reserved chickpea liquid if you want a smoother texture.

Make Hummus like Ya Ya’s …It’s What’s for an Appetizer.