I LOVE hummus. It only takes minutes to make AND it is very healthy for you! Bonus that it's so versatile - you can serve it plain with just a little olive oil drizzled over the top or dress it up with whatever toppings you like! Looking for a last minute appetizer to make for your own party or to bring to a friends? This recipe won't disappoint and you'll find yourself making it over and over again!
The word 'hummus' literally means 'chickpea' in Arabic, which is how it got its name. Homemade hummus tastes better than any of the store-bought varieties, and can be dressed up or down, depending on your personal preference.
The dish is alleged to have originated from the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern region hundreds of years ago. It's still quite popular today worldwide, and it's a perfect addition to any table!
How to Make the Hummus
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 (15.5 oz.) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ¼ c. + 2 Tbsp. well stirred tahini paste
- ¼ c. freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 ½ - 2 large lemons)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt
- ¼ tsp. ground cumin or smoked paprika
- ½ c. ice water (with ice)
- Good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Serve with pita or pretzel chips, crackers or cut up vegetables
DIRECTIONS:
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the chickpeas with the tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and the ice water until smooth.
The purpose for the ice water is to make the hummus fluffy, so if you feel you need to add a little more, do so slowly, one tablespoon at a time until you've reached the consistency you're looking for.
Spread the hummus on a serving plate, swirling with a spatula to make it pretty.
Drizzle the olive oil over the top, and then garnish with toppings of your choice:
- A sprinkling of additional cumin or smoked paprika
- Additional chickpeas
- Chopped tomato or cucumber
- Chopped parsley or cilantro
- Roasted pine nuts
Health Benefits of Hummus
Aside from tasting great, hummus offers a lot of health benefits! An article written by Ryan Raman, MS, RD on healthline.com highlights 8 great reasons to eat more hummus.
- It's highly nutritious and packed with protein
- Great for fighting inflammation
- High in fiber promoting digestive health and good gut bacteria
- May help control blood sugar levels
- May reduce heart risk disease
- Promotes weight loss and the maintenance of a healthy body weight
- Naturally gluten-, nut-, and dairy-free
- Super easy to include in your daily diet
Here are some additional topping ideas for delicious hummus, but really you can use anything you want - so have fun and be creative!
- Toasted Pine Nuts, chopped parsley and little more olive oil
- Chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped basil, a little more lemon juice and olive oil
- Crumbled crisp bacon (fried or baked), chopped roasted red peppers, a little more lemon juice and olive oil
Best Ever Hummus
Ingredients
- 2 15.5-oz. cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup tahini paste well stirred
- 2 Tbsp. additional tahini past well stirred
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 1 ½ - 2 fresh lemons
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 ½ tsp. Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp. ground cumin Smoked Paprika can be used instead of the cumin
- Good Olive Oil for drizzling
- ½ cup ice water with ice
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the drained chickpeas with the tahini paste, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, Kosher salt & ice water until smooth.
- If needed, you can add additional ice water, one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Spread the hummus on a serving plate and drizzle with a little bit of the olive oil
- Sprinkle a little more of the ground cumin on top (or smoked paprika if you used that instead of the cumin)
- Add additional toppings as desired
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