Black Bean Hummus with Red Onions, Farmer's Cheese, and Ancho Chile Sauce in Pita Bread

The Middle Eastern dish hummus, made of pureed chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed sauce), is justly renowned not only for its rich flavor but also for its remarkable versatility. It can be used as a dip, spread, or sandwich filling. It also lends itself to any number of variations- the addition of roasted garlic, for example, or hot spices. Given its appeal, we were wondering one day what it might be like if it were made with another bean and different spices. We experimented with black beans and discovered that black bean hummus, with Southwestern overtones, is also a winner.

The ancho chile sauce on these sandwiches serves as a strong accent. It can be made well in advance and is good to have in the refrigerator to spice up any number of dishes. If you make both the hummus and sauce in advance, then it is just a matter of filling the pita pockets, which makes for a quick lunch or light supper with a bowl of soup. Remember the hummus when you want an easy appetizer, and serve it with triangles of pita bread. Use the sauce as you do here, as an accent.