A Cup of Catherine

Protein-Packed Hemp & Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus + A Giveaway! {Closed}

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If you’re active in the fitness or healthy living world, you’re probably well aware of the importance of protein.

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Protein is more than just another macronutrient that you obtain from a giant piece of chicken or bowl full of beans.

In fact, proteins—or the thousands of smaller units called amino acids of which they’re composed—are the building blocks of the body. Proteins have many critical functions and are a necessary component of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

Unlike fat or carbohydrates, our bodies do not store protein, so it’s especially important that we consume an adequate amount each and every day. [source]

What if I told you that you could find the perfect protein—one that contains all 20 essential amino acids—in a tiny seed?

Well, you can!

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As a Sweat Pink Ambassador with Fit Approach, I received a sample of hemp hearts from Manitoba Harvest.

Hemp hearts are simply raw, hulled hemp seeds.

These tiny powerhouses contain a whopping 10 grams each of protein and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids (in a 30 gram serving).

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I like to use hemp hearts as I would other seeds or nuts. They have a nutty, earthy taste—similar to a pine nut—and are delicious sprinkled on top of salads or mixed into yogurt bowls. And they don’t get stuck in your teeth like those pesky chia seeds tend to do!

Manitoba Harvest has an awesome list of recipes on their site, but I chose to keep things simple with this protein-packed sun-dried tomato hemp hummus.

It’s full of flavor thanks to the sun-dried tomatoes, and it’s the perfect post-workout snack to help you refuel and recover.

Hemp + Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

Protein-packed Hemp & Sun-dried Tomato Hummus

Ingredients

  • 1 15-oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (with liquid reserved)
  • 8 sun-dried tomatoes
  • 3 Tbsp tahini
  • 3 Tbsp hemp seeds (+ more for garnish)
  • 2-3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil (I used the herb-flavored oil from the sun-dried tomato jar)
  • 1 large garlic clove
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Add all of your ingredients into the bowl of a food processor and pulse (I alternated between “high” and “low”) until combined. You may have to scrape down the sides as needed.
  2. Once blended, taste and add any additional seasonings, if desired. To thin, add 1-2 Tbsp of reserved liquid at a time (I added about 4 total) until desired consistency is reached.
  3. Serve immediately. Garnish with hemp hearts and serve with toasted pita, baby carrots, crackers, celery sticks, etc.

Slightly adapted from Cooking Classy.

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But wait—there’s more! You can win your own sample of hemp hearts by following the prompts below.

Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only.*

Please leave a separate comment below for each entry you submit.

*One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Manitoba Harvest through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so another winner can be chosen.

Giveaway is open from today until Friday, November 13, and I will randomly select a winner on Monday, November 16.

** I received a free sample of hemp hearts from Manitoba Harvest as a Sweat Pink Ambassador with Fit Approach in exchange for a review. I was not compensated for this blog post, and all opinions are my own.**

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      • I’ll have to check out your linkup later today! I loved hemp seeds even before this sample/recipe. They’re not as “earthy” as I thought they’d be which is nice. 🙂

      • I’ll have to check out your linkup later today! I loved hemp seeds even before this sample/recipe. They’re not as “earthy” as I thought they’d be which is nice. 🙂

    3. I have not tried Hemp Hearts yet. One of the things I did when I really got “serious” about running was to up my protein intake. Since I love chickpeas (and therefore hummus), this recipe sounds very good. It’s nice getting to know you through the hop!

    4. I have not tried Hemp Hearts yet. One of the things I did when I really got “serious” about running was to up my protein intake. Since I love chickpeas (and therefore hummus), this recipe sounds very good. It’s nice getting to know you through the hop!

    17. I tweeted about the giveaway using @ManitobaHarvest #hemphearts @FitApproach #sweatpink @foodiecology_

    18. I tweeted about the giveaway using @ManitobaHarvest #hemphearts @FitApproach #sweatpink @foodiecology_