Homemade hummus is always a smooth move. Easy to make and super cheap, this healthy snack is just so easy to love! Serve it up with pita bread, crackers, and veggies and it's sure to be gone in a flash. If you're wondering how to make restaurant-quality hummus at home, follow our simple tips to ensure a delicious dip every time:
What Is Hummus?
Basic hummus is made from garbanzo beans — pre-cooked garbanzo beans (aka, chickpeas) whirled about in a blender or food processor with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, a little salt, and tahini. That's it. Easy, chickpeasy. But something so satisfying and simple can occasionally benefit from a few tweaks. With these hummus recipe tips and flavor twists listed below, you can hone your hummus so it hits the mark every time.
How to Make Hummus
Pick a hummus recipe that appeals to you and follow our easy tricks for making it perfect.
Watch the Salt
First things first. Sometimes just an extra pinch of salt can transform a bland hummus into a terrific hummus where all the flavors come together perfectly. It's a simple fix, but a little salt is often the answer to the question "How can I make my hummus taste better?" On the flipside, if you end up with over salted hummus, make a quick second batch, unsalted, and combine the two batches, adjusting the seasoning as needed.
Add a Squeeze of Lemon
If a pinch of salt pulls flavors together, a splash of fresh lemon juice brightens them up. Always use freshly squeezed juice for a bold flavor.
Don't Forget the Tahini
Tahini is a sesame seed paste that gives hummus its distinctive flavor. These days, prepared tahini is easy to find in grocery stores. Or try this homemade tahini recipe.
Go with Dry Garbanzos
Canned chickpeas work great in hummus, and most recipes call for canned, but some traditionalists swear by only using dry beans. So if you're starting with dry garbanzo beans, here's how to prepare them: Put the dry garbanzo beans in a large bowl and completely cover them with cool water. Let the beans sit in the cool water for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Then drain the beans and add them to a large saucepan. Cover the beans, again, with fresh water, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 90 minutes to 2 hours. Then pour the beans and cooking liquid into a bowl, and let them cool down to room temperature, and then refrigerate until cold. Your beans are ready for hummus!
Try Chef John's Trick for Extra Smooth Hummus
Don't add all the olive oil at once, says Chef John. Add just a touch, just enough to get it started. Pulse it, on and off, a few times, scraping down the sides of the blender with a spatula. Continue pulsing until the hummus is nice and smooth. Once it's puréed, add the remainder of olive oil, and give it a whirl.
Apply the Finishing Touches
Spoon your hummus into a bowl and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the top — break out the good oil for this operation. And finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or mint leaves and maybe some paprika or cumin. Chopped tomatoes and cucumbers are another terrific garnish. Serve with pita bread, crackers, and sliced vegetables for dipping.
Hummus Add-Ins
Traditional hummus is delicious, but if you want to shake things up then it's easy to throw a few extra ingredients in for a world of flavor. Check out our list below for some tasty hummus inspiration:
- Roasted red peppers
- Fresh herbs
- Pumpkin purée
- Peanut butter and Thai chili sauce
- Chipotle peppers
- Sun-dried tomatoes
Your options are limitless when it comes to hummus, whether it's with additional ingredients or how you serve it up, so keep this easy dip in your back pocket for creativity in the kitchen.
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- 25 Easy Dip Recipes With Five Ingredients or Less
