Hummus, a luscious and versatile dip originating from the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, is celebrated for its delightful blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and spices. While readily available in stores, nothing compares to the vibrant and fresh taste of homemade hummus. Trust us; once you try making it yourself, you’ll understand why it’s considered one of the Easiest Food Recipes that delivers restaurant-quality flavor right in your kitchen.
This hummus recipe is truly exceptional – a cherished family favorite passed down through years, and adored by countless readers as their go-to hummus. If you’re a fan of bold flavors, don’t miss our recipe for roasted red pepper hummus, another incredibly easy and delicious variation.
Alt text: Quick video preview of making homemade hummus, showcasing its ease as one of the easiest food recipes.
Essential Ingredients for the Easiest Hummus
Creating this incredibly easy hummus requires just a handful of key ingredients, all readily available and simple to work with:
- Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): The heart of our hummus. You can use canned chickpeas for ultimate convenience, making this one of the easiest food recipes imaginable. Alternatively, home-cooked chickpeas offer a slightly richer flavor if you have a bit more time.
- Tahini: This sesame seed paste is crucial for authentic hummus flavor, lending a nutty and creamy depth. Find it in most grocery stores, or for a truly homemade experience, try our easy tahini recipe. Making your own tahini is also surprisingly simple! For a tahini-free version, check our tips below.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is non-negotiable for bright, zesty hummus. Bottled juice simply doesn’t compare in flavor and vibrancy.
- Garlic: Just one small clove of garlic provides the perfect subtle kick. Adjust to your preference – more for a bolder garlic flavor, or roasted garlic for a sweeter, mellow note. Learn how to roast garlic easily with our guide.
- Ground Cumin & Salt: These simple spices enhance the natural flavors of the hummus, with cumin adding warmth and earthiness. For serving, a sprinkle of Za’atar seasoning adds an extra layer of Middle Eastern flair, as shown in our recipe video.
- Olive Oil: Good quality olive oil is key to achieving that signature smooth and luxurious hummus texture. We also drizzle a bit on top before serving for added richness and visual appeal. Opt for fruity, light-flavored olive oils to best complement the hummus.
Step-by-Step Guide: Hummus – One of the Easiest Food Recipes You’ll Ever Make
The secret to incredibly creamy and smooth homemade hummus, making it stand out among easiest food recipes, lies in the order you blend the ingredients! This simple technique truly transforms the final result.
First, combine tahini and lemon juice in your food processor. This initial step is crucial.
Process these two ingredients for one to two minutes. Let the food processor work its magic, whipping the tahini and lemon juice into a lighter, thicker paste. Notice the color change and increased volume in the next photo.
Now, it’s time to add the remaining hummus components. We recommend adding chickpeas in two batches. Process half of the chickpeas for about a minute before adding the rest. Then, simply let your food processor run until the mixture is almost smooth.
For the final touch of creaminess, while the processor is still running, gradually add cold water, a tablespoon at a time. You’ll witness the mixture transform into fluffy, whipped, and utterly creamy hummus. This is what elevates this recipe above other easiest food recipes – the texture is simply divine.
While cold water is our go-to, aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) works wonders too, adding extra depth of flavor. Explore our ultimate guide to aquafaba to learn more. Some readers even suggest using ice cubes for an even fluffier texture!
Peeling Chickpeas: Optional Step for Extra Smoothness in This Easiest Food Recipe
While not strictly necessary for this easiest food recipe, peeling chickpeas can result in an even smoother hummus texture. It’s an optional step, perfect for when you have a few extra minutes and desire the absolute极致 smoothness. Peeling a can of chickpeas takes roughly 10 minutes and makes a subtle but noticeable difference.
The photo below illustrates the slight texture difference: hummus made with peeled chickpeas (left) is marginally smoother than hummus made with skin-on chickpeas (right).
Even without peeling, your hummus will be incredibly delicious and still qualifies as one of the easiest food recipes you can master. If you love chickpeas, explore our full collection of chickpea recipes for more inspiration.
Serving Suggestions: Enjoying Your Effortlessly Delicious Hummus
Hummus is incredibly versatile! There are countless ways to savor this delightful and easiest food recipe creation. We adore it as a dip with warm fluffy flatbread, homemade pita bread, or a platter of crisp, fresh vegetables.
It’s also a fantastic addition to a mezze platter, alongside other dips and spreads like homemade baba ganoush (roasted eggplant dip), tzatziki sauce, homemade labneh, and our amazing tahini sauce. For a flavorful twist, try topping your hummus as we do in our spiced beef and feta hummus recipe.
Beyond dipping, hummus is excellent spread on sandwiches and wraps, served with homemade falafel, or as a healthy and flavorful filling for lettuce wraps. For a quick and easy appetizer, check out our recipe for easy hummus cups with cucumber and tomato.
Easy Hummus (Better than Store-Bought)
- PREP
- TOTAL
Homemade hummus is surprisingly easy to prepare and the taste far surpasses store-bought versions. Tahini, a sesame seed paste, is essential. You can purchase it or easily make it yourself – our homemade tahini recipe is highly recommended for the best homemade hummus experience! If you need to omit tahini, simply add more olive oil.
6 Servings (Makes 1 1/2 cups)
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
- 1 (15oz) can chickpeas, drained or 1 ½ cups (250g) cooked chickpeas
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice, 1 large lemon
- 1/4 cup (60ml) well-stirred tahini, try our homemade tahini recipe
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt to taste
- 2 to 3 tablespoons (45ml) cold water or aquafaba
- Dash ground paprika, sumac, or Za’atar for serving
Directions
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In the bowl of a food processor, combine the tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then process for 30 seconds more. This extra time helps “whip” or “cream” the tahini, making the hummus smooth and creamy – a key step in this easiest food recipe.
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Add the olive oil, minced garlic, cumin, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the whipped tahini and lemon juice. Process for 30 seconds, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, and then process for another 30 seconds or until well blended.
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Drain the chickpeas. Then add half of the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then add the remaining chickpeas and process them until thick and relatively smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
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The hummus will likely be too thick and still have tiny bits of chickpea. To fix this, slowly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of cold water or aquafaba with the food processor turned on until you reach the perfect consistency.
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Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hummus with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika, sumac, or Za’atar.
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Store homemade hummus in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to one week. Freeze, covered with a thin layer of olive oil, for up to one month.
Adam and Joanne’s Easy Tips for Perfect Hummus
- How to cook dried chickpeas: For a completely homemade approach to this easiest food recipe, use home-cooked chickpeas. Here is how we cook dried chickpeas.
- Hummus without tahini: While tahini is ideal, you can still make delicious hummus without it. Simply increase the olive oil for richness. Creamy, unsweetened peanut butter can also be used as a substitute.
- Garlic lovers: For a more intense garlic flavor in this easiest food recipe, add an extra clove or use roasted garlic.
- Aquafaba for extra fluffiness: Use aquafaba (chickpea liquid) instead of water for an even lighter and airier hummus texture. Taste it first and reduce salt if needed.
- Tahini & lemon juice not creaming?: If your food processor struggles to cream tahini and lemon juice, increase the liquid by adding olive oil, or a tablespoon of cold water.
- Blender option: A food processor is best for this easiest food recipe, but a high-powered blender can work. Scrape down the sides frequently during blending.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1/4 cup / Calories 155 / Total Fat 11g / Saturated Fat 1.5g / Cholesterol 0mg / Sodium 278.3mg / Carbohydrate 11.8g / Dietary Fiber 2.9g / Total Sugars 1.8g / Protein 4.5g
AUTHOR: Joanne Gallagher
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