Hummus Recipe

Hummus is one of my favorite foods because it is so highly versatile. A homemade hummus recipe is so much better than store-bought because you can completely customize the flavors to suit your own preferences.

This classic and authentic hummus recipe has just a handful of ingredients and can be whipped up in ten minutes for a delicious and flavorful snack. 

Ingredients

• 15 oz. can chickpeas
• Juice from a lemon (about ¼ cup)
• 1 garlic clove
• ¼ cup tahini
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2-3 tablespoons chickpea liquid
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• Salt

How To Make a Creamy Hummus

The trick to creating a smooth, creamy hummus is all in the blending. You want to add your ingredients in the correct order and blend thoroughly between each addition to ensure everything is smooth and blended completely.

Just as you do with smoothies, always start with some liquid. Add your tahini and lemon juice to the blender first. Followed by the chickpeas and other ingredients.

Blend for at least 30 seconds to a minute between each ingredient addition. 

Instructions

Follow these steps for a deliciously healthy hummus recipe that you can eat as a dip or use in other meals.

Step 1 – Drain the Chickpeas (Reserve the Liquid)

Open the chickpeas and drain the liquid into another small dish. Set aside and reserve it for later.

Step 2 – Stir the Tahini

The oils in tahini can separate, much like in a jar of natural peanut butter, so stirring it before use is necessary. I like to use a reusable straw to stir mine because it’s long and thin and fits into the jar my preferred tahini comes in.

Once the oils have been incorporated, it’s ready to use!

Step 3 – Blend the Tahini and Lemon

Add the tahini and lemon juice to your food processor. Blend it on high for 30 seconds until it forms a thick, fluffy paste.

Step 4 – Add the Chickpeas and Garlic

To the tahini mixture, add the chickpeas and garlic and blend for another minute.

I like to add the garlic here because adding it with the chickpeas helps it incorporate more smoothly.

Step 5 – Add Olive Oil

Blend for another 30 seconds while you drizzle in the olive oil.

Step 6 – Season the Hummus

Sprinkle in the salt and paprika—taste for your preference.

Step 7 – Check the Consistency and Serve

Check the hummus, and if it’s too dry, which it likely will be, add some of the chickpea liquid a tablespoon at a time while blending on high until you get the perfect consistency.

I like to garnish this healthy hummus recipe with a little extra olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika for color. Smoked paprika is my absolute favorite spice, but you can use regular paprika, cumin, or sumac. Whatever you like best!

What is Hummus?

Hummus is a smooth dip or spread made from chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans). A classic hummus recipe will use chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and lemon juice. 

It is traditionally eaten as a dip with pita, but it is also served with vegetables or used as a condiment.

Do You Need to Cook or Peel the Chickpeas?

In short, no. You will likely find a hummus recipe or two that say you should peel your chickpeas before blending. While this does create an incredibly smooth hummus, I don’t think it’s worth all of the added work. 

Some hummus recipes call for dried chickpeas that you cook down in water with some baking soda (which makes the skin easier to remove). If you are using dried beans that you’ve cooked yourself, it is worthwhile to remove the skins to make a better texture.

Canned chickpeas in liquid are so soft even with the skin on that I think that step is just more effort than it’s worth.

Hummus Variations

This healthy hummus recipe is delicious as is, but here are a few of my favorite hummus variations.

Garlic Hummus Recipe

Garlic hummus is an easy tweak to the classic hummus recipe. Instead of one garlic clove, you’ll add two or three.

The raw garlic gives it a spicy kick that I absolutely love.

Chipotle Feta Hummus

One of my family’s most requested recipes when I bring food to share, chipotle feta hummus is a flavorful snack with vegetables or tortilla chips. 

Along with the above ingredients. Add 1 small chipotle pepper and a teaspoon of the adobo sauce when you add the chickpeas.

Sprinkle in ¼ cup of feta cheese crumbles when you add the garlic.

Avocado Hummus

A fresh and tasty twist on a hummus recipe, add an entire avocado after blending your chickpeas. Instead of using lemon juice, try lime juice and even add a little bit of cilantro for some extra flavor.

Dessert Hummus

Likely the most controversial of all hummus recipes, dessert hummus is really a sweet dip made with chickpeas as the base.

My favorite dessert hummus is peanut butter chocolate chip. To a can of chickpeas I add some creamy peanut butter, sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and blend it all together. I stir in a handful of chocolate chips after blending and use graham crackers or fruit to dip!

Other Ways to Eat Hummus

The most common way you’ll see hummus offered is with vegetables or pita for dipping as a snack. But I love to eat it as a condiment as well! Here are some delicious recipes using hummus.

• Use a layer to flavor a plain grilled cheese sandwich
• Use hummus as a thickener in a pasta sauce or in pasta salad
• Hummus is a great condiment in lettuce wraps
• Spread a generous layer on the bun for a Mediterranean style burger
• Use hummus as the ‘sauce’ for a Greek-style pizza
• Add a couple of tablespoons to a salad dressing to give your salad an unexpected creamy flavor

Now, It’s Your Turn!

Now that you’ve read everything you can do with a batch of this simple hummus recipe, I hope you’re ready to make it your own. Try a few different spices or one of the variations I listed above until you find the perfect hummus recipe for you and your family.

Don’t forget to blend the tahini and lemon first, and then let your food processor do its job for the rest of the ingredients. It’s such a quick and easy recipe; you don’t need to rush it along any quicker!

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