Best Hummus Recipe (Homemade, Vegan, Gluten-free Dip) - Cook with Kushi (2024)

Published: Jan 8, 2021 · Modified: Jan 16, 2024 by Kushi · This post may contain affiliate links.

Hummus is a smooth, creamy, and fresh Middle Eastern recipe made using only six ingredients. This traditional hummus recipe can be prepared in less than 15 minutes. Serve this as a dip with pita bread or as a snack or appetizer with crostini, vegetables, etc.

Recipe card

What is a hummus dip?

Hummus is a rich, smooth, creamy, flavorful dip made using chickpeas, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and tahini paste. This dip is rich in plant-based protein, vegan, and gluten-free.

Authentic hummus is not only easy to make at home but tastes better than store-bought. This is one of the popular foods in the United States, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean region.

Serve it for any party or dinner with pita bread, chips, vegetables, or crackers. You can slather it on a baguette and serve it as an appetizer. Stir in some water and use it as a dressing in your salad or rice bowls.

Can you make hummus without tahini?

Yes. You can make hummus without tahini. Tahini is used to add a nutty flavor to the hummus dip. You can skip it. A simple chickpea puree with other ingredients is still delicious and creamy. You can add yogurt or unsweetened nut butter (cashew, almond, peanut) instead of tahini. The taste and flavor will vary accordingly.

Ingredients

Chickpeas: To make hummus, I love to use canned chickpeas as it makes your job easier. If using dried chickpeas, remember to soak them overnight and then pressure cook.

Garlic: If you love the flavor of garlic, add the amount mentioned in the recipe. Else, reduce it to 1 or 2 cloves.

Olive oil: For an authentic and traditional taste with a rich and luxurious flavor, use olive oil. No other oil will taste good.

Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice for best flavor.

Tahini: is a paste made by grinding sesame seeds to a smooth paste. Use good quality tahini. This will give you smooth hummus.

How to make the best hummus?

• In a high-speed speed blender or food processor, add chickpeas(reserve some for decoration), garlic cloves, 4 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, lime juice, tahini, and blitz for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth or creamy. If necessary, add more olive oil, aquafaba (drained water from cooked chickpeas), or even 2 to 3 tablespoons of ice-cold water to loosen the hummus and make it more creamy.
• At this point, taste and add more salt or any other ingredient for flavoring if necessary.
• Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl. Make a well in the center and pour 1 tablespoon olive oil. Decorate with remaining chickpeas. Garnish it with cayenne pepper powder and parsley.
• Serve with carrots, capsicum, celery, crackers, pita bread, pita chips, etc., and enjoy!

What to dip in hummus?

There are thousands of ways in which you can eat hummus.

• Mezze is complete with a bowl of smooth, creamy hummus and warmpita bread.
• Serve with tortilla chips, veggies like carrots, red or green peppers, celery sticks, etc.
• Slather hummus on baguettes (crostini) and serve as an appetizer for your next party.
• Hummus is served as a side with couscous salad, tabbouleh, chicken shawarma bowls, etc.
• You can also use this as a spread for your falafel sandwich, for marinades, salad dressing, bread toast, buddha bowl, wraps etc.

Store, Make ahead, and Freeze.

• Once the hummus recipe is prepared, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days and in a freezer for up to 1 month.
• Hummus dip is among the best recipes for dinner, Super Bowl, game night parties, potluck, picnics, etc.

Variations

The hummus recipe is one of the most popular chickpea dishes that my family loves, apart from chole or chana masala. I always make variations to hummus depending on the ingredients available in my pantry.

• Sriracha hummus dip: add about ¼ cup of Sriracha sauce per can of chickpeas. This would be a great variation for spicy food lovers.
• Arugula Hummus dip: add about 1 cup of arugula for one can of chickpeas. This gives the dip a special zesty flavor.
• Black Bean hummus-make black bean to chickpeas ratio 1 : 1 in the recipe. A can of black beans and a can of chickpeas, each 15 oz.
• Creamy Avocado Hummus- just mash and add about two avocados to the hummus mixture before blending. It is one of the best variations and would be a great hit at parties as a dip for pita chips, tortilla chips, veggies, etc.
• Green Hummus- 1 cup of leafy herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, or a combination of all 3 for one can of garbanzo beans.
• Sun-dried Tomato Hummus- ¾ cup of sun-dried tomatoes for a can of chickpeas.
• Sesame hummus- 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame is added to the hummus mixture before blending.
• Beetroot hummus- 1 beetroot boiled and added to hummus mixture before blending. Gives a beautiful red color and sweetness to the hummus.
• White bean or cannellini bean hummus- similar to black bean hummus, follow 1: 1 ratio.
• Red pepper hummus: 1 roasted red pepper is added to the hummus mixture before blending.
• Roasted cauliflower hummus: About 1 cup of cauliflower, roasted and added to the hummus mixture before blending. Ideal hummus version for a keto diet.

I can go on with variations, but let me pause here. Do share your favorite one below, and I would love to try it. I will share detailed recipes for all soon.

Recipe FAQs

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Note: We originally posted this traditional hummus recipe in Jan 2021. It has now been modified in Jan 2024 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.