Hummus

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This Middle Eastern dip and spread, Hummus, is made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic. This luxuriously creamy and flavor-packed dip is fully irresistible — especially slathered over pita chips!

Overhead view of a bowl of Hummus

The BEST Hummus Recipe

Before traveling to the Middle East (and eating all the food), I’d always just bought hummus. It wasn’t a favorite dip of mine (Salsa is my go-to!) so why bother making it?!

Well, that trip completely changed my mind on hummus — I quickly became obsessed. As in, I ordered it every single time it was on the menu. Including breakfast — yes, really!

It had so much more flavor and texture than anything I’d ever had in the states. So for months now I’ve been on a mission to recreate it. I couldn’t go back to store-bought after trying the “real” stuff!

Ingredient shot: a view of all the ingredients used in Hummus

A Middle Eastern Recipe

After trying just about every single recipe online, I almost gave up. Nothing tasted like it did on our trip and none of the textures were quite right. That is, until I tried the recipe from Adeena Sussman’s cookbook. It is sheer perfection — the best healthy hummus recipe and exactly what I fell in love with while in the Middle East.

I’m sharing a version of her hummus recipe (using canned chickpeas) with a few minor tweaks of my own. (And I’ll attempt to convince you to use the blender instead of a food processor.) But hats off to Adeena: thank you for making all my hummus dreams come true! 🙂

Process shots: preparing the chickpeas in the food processor

What Is Hummus Made Of?

There isn’t too much needed to make this dip taste amazing — canned chickpeas, fresh lemon juice, tahini, garlic, plus some salt and pepper. The dip is then topped with extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika.

Hummus Recipe With Tahini

When making this recipe, the biggest variable is tahini — this is a make-or-break ingredient. I’ve tried some really great tahini and some that are near inedible. Additionally, most tahini will separate quite a bit (leaving a thick sludge at the bottom with oil on the top) so be sure to shake the jar or mix the container really well before measuring for this recipe.

My personal favorite? Mighty Sesame Co.® or Soom Foods® Sesame Tahini (affiliate links, but not sponsored).

QUICK TIP

What is Tahini? Tahini is a sesame paste sold in most mainstream grocery stores. Be sure to use hulled tahini (not unhulled or whole seed). Unhulled (whole seed tahini) is made from the whole sesame seeds (hull and all) which delivers a more bitter flavor.

Process shots: Alternative to food processor is using a blender to create Hummus

How To Make Hummus

It seems a lot of people are hung up on the idea of having ultra smooth hummus, which is certainly not how you’ll get it in the Middle East. It has loads of texture and is far from perfectly smooth. This is because of the skin on the chickpeas.

If you’re set on having the smoothest possible hummus, you can remove all of the chickpea skins, but I never bother. Especially if you have a high-powered blender, it’s amazing how relatively smooth you can get the mixture! And if you like even  more texture, use a food processor.

Additionally, the consistency of this dip is a bit looser than you’ll find in a grocery store in the States. This is exactly how it is in the Middle East and makes it ideal for smearing over pita chips or flatbreads before adding on meats and scoops of Israeli Salad.

Should Hummus Be Served Warm Or Cold?

For the flavors to shine the way they’re intended, hummus is best at room temperature. It’s creamier and tastier!

Up-close view of a cracker scooping up some Hummus

Hummus FAQs

What is hummus?

Hummus is a creamy blend of cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. This high-protein dip is popular worldwide for being tasty, inexpensive, easy to make, and nutritious.

Unlike peanut butter, which is made from nuts, hummus is made from sesame seeds and used differently.

How do you properly eat hummus?

Hummus is great as a dip, spread, sandwich topping, or even on its own!
  • Favorite: Dip for pita chips
  • Other dippers: Tortilla chips, naan, pita, flatbread, bagel chips, crackers, pretzels
  • Sandwiches and wraps: Spread on sandwiches or wraps like Hummus Wraps or Vegetarian Gyros
  • Veggie dip: Perfect for celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, cherry tomatoes
  • Pasta sauce: Makes a tasty and different pasta sauce

How do you substitute dried chickpeas in this recipe?

For this recipe, you need about 1 cup of dried chickpeas, which should be cooked before use. Start by removing any debris or shriveled beans from the dried chickpeas.

Here’s how to prepare them:

On the Stove:

  1. Soak overnight in water (the beans will triple in size).
  2. Drain and add to a large pot with 2 inches of water and 1 tsp baking soda.
  3. Bring to a boil, then simmer with the lid slightly ajar for 45-55 minutes, checking every 15 minutes until tender.
  4. Cool the chickpeas in the liquid and reserve some of the liquid before draining.

Instant Pot:

  1. No need to soak. Cover with water and cook on high for 50 minutes.
  2. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release the rest.
  3. Reserve some of the cooking liquid.

View of a bowl of Hummus surrounded by Israeli Salad and pita chips

How To Top It!

Once you’ve prepared Hummus, spoon it into a shallow dish or on a plate and use the back of a spoon to make swirls over the top. Drizzle on olive oil– which will pool in those swirls–and then sprinkle on some paprika and finely chopped parsley. Besides being delicious, it’s beautiful served this way!

QUICK TIP

Another popular topping is tatbila/tatbelah which is a traditional Arabic condiment that helps to cut through the richness of the Hummus. Here’s how to make it: Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 tsp minced jalapeño (seeds and ribs removed), 1/2 tsp minced garlic, and a good pinch of salt in a small bowl. Stir and spoon on top of Hummus.

Make A Whole Spread To Go Alongside

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Hummus

5 from 1 vote
This Middle Eastern dip and spread, Hummus, is made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic. This luxuriously creamy and flavor-packed dip is fully irresistible -- especially slathered over pita chips!
A lot of people are hung up on the idea of having ultra smooth hummus, which is not how you'll get it in the Middle East. It has great texture and is far from perfectly smooth. This is because of the skin on the chickpeas. If you're set on having the smoothest possible hummus, you can remove all of the chickpea skins first, but I never bother. Especially if you have a high-powered blender, it's amazing how relatively smooth you can get the mixture!
Print Recipe

Hummus

5 from 1 vote
This Middle Eastern dip and spread, Hummus, is made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic. This luxuriously creamy and flavor-packed dip is fully irresistible -- especially slathered over pita chips!
A lot of people are hung up on the idea of having ultra smooth hummus, which is not how you'll get it in the Middle East. It has great texture and is far from perfectly smooth. This is because of the skin on the chickpeas. If you're set on having the smoothest possible hummus, you can remove all of the chickpea skins first, but I never bother. Especially if you have a high-powered blender, it's amazing how relatively smooth you can get the mixture!
Course Appetizer, condiment, Dip
Cuisine Healthy, middle eastern, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword hummus, hummus recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 -12 as a side/app (yield is 3-1/3 cups)
Chelsea Lords
Calories 267kcal

Equipment

  • High-powered blender or food processor (Note 1)

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (15 oz. each) un-drained chickpeas, See note 2 if you want to use dried chickpeas
  • 1 tablespoon sliced garlic, 3 cloves
  • 1/2 cup tahini Note 3
  • 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 lemons
  • Salt and pepper
  • For topping: olive oil, sprinkle paprika
  • For serving: pita chips, veggies

Instructions

  • Drain the chickpeas, reserving 1 cup of the liquid. Do not rinse them.
  • Add the chickpeas, 1/2 cup (115g) of the reserved liquid, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1/2 cup tahini, 1/3 cup lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a large food processor or high-powered blender. Season gradually, as the amount may vary depending on the chickpeas. Start with 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then adjust to taste. See Note 1.
  • Blend until very smooth and creamy, about 2-4 minutes, depending on the blender's power and desired consistency. If needed, add up to 1/4 cup more chickpea liquid. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  • Dollop the mixture into a shallow bowl and smooth the top with the back of a spoon to create swirls. Drizzle oil over the swirls and sprinkle with paprika. Enjoy with pita chips or veggies.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I prefer a blender for this recipe as it yields smoother results more quickly than a food processor. For the smoothest hummus, use a high-powered blender like Blendtec® or Vitamix®.
Note 2: Using dried chickpeas: If you prefer dried chickpeas over canned, start with 1 cup of dried chickpeas. Follow the instructions in the FAQ section of the post.
Note 3: Tahini is a sesame paste available in most grocery stores. Use hulled tahini, not unhulled or whole seed, which can be bitter. Tahini often separates, so shake or mix it well before measuring. Not all tahini is equal; I recommend Mighty Sesame Co. or Soom Foods Sesame Tahini Paste.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 4mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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