Hummus Recipe (Quick and Easy!)

To some, hummus is just a simple dip. To others, it can be the centerpiece of a whole meal. This hummus recipe far and beyond meets Cook & Crumbs requirements: it’s definitely quick, easy and healthy. It’s adaptable to different spices and even different vegetables mixed into it. And it’s plenty filling from all that chickpea fiber and protein, plus tahini’s high fat and protein content. 

What Is Hummus? 

Hummus is a creamy spread made from chickpeas and tahini, plus lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. It’s thought to have origins in ancient Egypt, but the jury is out. Hummus is decidedly Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, and is often served on mezze platters with pita bread to dip. 

Hummus Recipe Ingredients

This hummus recipe can be made with the most bare bone of ingredients: chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, a garlic clove and a lemon. That’s truly all you need. Canned chickpeas or a bag? Doesn’t matter. Don’t have tahini? If you have sesame seeds, you do! (See below: Can you make hummus without tahini?)

Hummus also lends itself well to other flavors. At its core, it’s pretty mild—subtle on its own, interesting with other flavors. You could make carrot hummus, beet hummus, red pepper hummus, olive hummus… the list could go on and on.

Common spice additions include cumin, smoked paprika and za’atar blend.  

Do You Need To Peel The Chickpea Skins?

Some people also peel the chickpeas skin first, but it’s definitely not necessary. Your hummus will be smoother, but to me it’s not worth the extra time and effort. If you have more time and energy than I do (and you want extremely smooth hummus) then boil your chickpeas for a few minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, then rub the skin off in batches. It’ll taste the same either way, but skinless will be smoother.

What Is Tahini?

Tahini is a sesame seed paste with oil and salt that adds a subtle but important flavor to the chickpeas. It’s lightly nutty, and a delicious sauce in its own right. People use it to make any number of sauces and salad dressings. It even tastes yummy with chocolate!

Can You Make This Hummus Recipe Without Tahini?

You could make hummus without tahini, but then it wouldn’t exactly be hummus. It would be more of a chickpea spread. Tahini adds a fair amount of fat and protein to hummus, which makes it heartier and yummier in this home cook’s humble opinion. So why not?

If you don’t have tahini on hand, you can make some quite easily if you have a jar of sesame seeds. Process with olive oil and salt, and there you have it—tahini!

How To Make This Hummus Recipe

This hummus recipe is about as quick and easy as it gets. Throw everything into your food processor and hit go! You can also use a high-powered blender like a Vitamix. Some hummus recipes call for adding ingredients in a certain order, but I lean on the unfussy side and throw in whatever’s in my hand first. 

You can refrigerate hummus for a few hours to thicken up before serving, and store for 4-5 days (if it lasts that long!).

We love a good side around here! If you’re looking for more sides, try these:

• Purple Cabbage Coleslaw
• Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
• Sweet Potato Green Salad
• Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
• Greek Tzatziki

Make It A Mezze Platter

There is no shortage of delicious Mediterranean food! Homemade hummus meets its perfect match in cold and creamy tzatziki sauce. You could eat it alongside hummus with some olives, falafel and pita bread. Heaven!

View This Homemade Easy Vegan Tzatziki

Hummus Makes A Delicious Dressing, Too

If you feel like mixing things up, water your hummus down a bit and use it as a dressing on this delicious chickpea Buddha bowl. Feeling crazy? Make hummus, tzatziki and Buddha bowls for your next dinner party. Your guests will be saying Opa!

View This Delicious Chickpea Buddha Bowl

Hummus

This simple hummus recipe makes a tasty dip with the most bare bone of ingredients: chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, a garlic clove and a lemon. That’s truly all you need. Serve with warm pita bread and olives.

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Course Dips, Dressings & Sauces, Sides & Salads

Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

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Ingredients

• 1 15oz can chickpeas (1.5 cups)
• 1/3 cup Tahini
• 1 Lemon
• 1 clove Garlic
• 2 tbsp Olive oil

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to your food processor and blend until smooth. With the chickpea skins on, the hummus will appear chunkier (but tastes the same as without). 
• If necessary, add cold water or aqaufaba (juice from the chickpea can) one tablespoon at a time to achieve desired smoothness.