- 1/4 cup packed fresh flat-leafed parsley sprigs plus 2 to 3 additional sprigs
 - 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
 - 3 tablespoons pine nuts
 - 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
 - two 19-ounce cans chick-peas
 - 4 garlic cloves
 - 2/3 cup well-stirred tahini
 - 2/3 cup water
 - 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
 - 1 teaspoon salt
 - Accompaniment:spiced pita toasts
 
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
 - In a blender or small food processor purée 1/4 cup parsley with 1/4 cup oil. Pour mixture through a fine sieve set over a bowl, pressing hard on solids, and discard solids.
 - In a small baking pan toast pine nuts and cumin seeds, stirring occasionally, until nuts are golden, about 10 minutes.
 - In a colander rinse and drain chick-peas and in a food processor purée 1/2 cup with garlic until garlic is finely minced. Add tahini, water, lemon juice, salt, remaining chick-peas, and remaining 1/2 cup olive oil and purée until smooth. Recipe may be prepared up to this point 3 days ahead. Keep hummus and parsley oil chilled, covered, and pine nuts and cumin seeds in an airtight container at room temperature. Bring parsley oil to room temperature before using.
 - Strip leaves from additional parsley sprigs. Divide hummus between 2 shallow dishes and smooth tops. Drizzle hummus with parsley oil and sprinkle with parsley, pine nuts, and cumin seeds.
 - Serve hummus with pita toasts.