How to Make Hummus

Guide Note

Want to try your hand at making hummus? It may not be as hard as you think. Read on to discover the culinary secrets of this healthy Middle Eastern dip.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Gather Ingredients and Supplies
• A Step-by-Step Recipe
• Serving Methods
• Variations
• Resources

Hummus Tips

1. Use the freshest ingredients possible.
2. Experiment with add-ins to find your favorite(s).
3. Either a blender or a food processor can be used successfully to make hummus, but a blender tends to create a smoother paste.
4. Don't be afraid of over-processing or over-blending your hummus. Letting the mixture blend for longer than you think it needs to will only result in a creamier texture, which is highly coveted in good hummus.

• by Carly Schuna

Introduction

• Hummus, the Arabic word for "chickpeas," is a smooth paste that's a popular food item in many Middle Eastern countries. It's also a nutritional powerhouse, packing vitamins, iron, dietary fiber, monounsaturated fats, and amino acids. As well as being a staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants worldwide, hummus is available in most conventional grocery stores. It's a pricey item, though, especially if you buy it often. Many people don't know that it's relatively easy to make with just the help of a blender and a few common ingredients. If you'd like to try, read on!

Gather Ingredients and Supplies

Chickpeas. (Creative Commons photo by Ferran Nogués)

• You'll need just a few key ingredients to make hummus, as well as a blender or food processor.

The Base

• There are a couple of key ingredients that can't be substituted if you're making hummus: chickpeas and tahini.

1. Dried chickpeas are fine to use as long as you rinse and cook them first, but canned chickpeas are just as good and perhaps more convenient.
2. Tahini is another term for sesame seed paste, which is difficult to make from scratch. It's necessary for authentic and smooth hummus, though, and can be found at most health food stores or Middle Eastern grocery stores.

• Other ingredients that are a part of nearly every hummus recipe are water, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice.

Other Ingredients

• When making a batch of hummus, keep in mind your personal tastes.

1. Roasted garlic can be used instead of raw garlic, for example.
2. Or use canola oil instead of olive oil.
3. Depending on preferences, hummus can also be made with a wide variety of other ingredients, such as:
   • Cumin
   • Chili powder
   • Parsley
   • Cilantro
   • Yogurt
   • Roasted red peppers
   • Pine nuts

• See the variations section for more hummus recipes.

A Step-by-Step Recipe

• There are dozens of variations of hummus recipes available, but this is a good base recipe to follow for smooth, classic hummus.

1. Get your ingredients.
   • You'll need the following:
   • 1 can of chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), drained
   • ¼ cup tahini
   • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
   • 2 cloves raw or roasted garlic, crushed or diced
   • ½ teaspoon salt
   • 3 tablespoons olive oil
   • Up to ½ cup water
2. Combine all of the ingredients except the water in a blender or food processor.
   • Reserve the water—you'll need to add it gradually to get a consistency you desire in the hummus.
3. Process or blend the mixture.
   • Pulse or blend the hummus ingredients for several minutes until they've become a thick but fluffy paste. Scrape down the sides if needed, and make sure that the chickpeas and garlic cloves are pureed entirely.
4. Add the water.
   • One tablespoon at a time, add the water to the hummus. Blend or process thoroughly after each addition until you've added enough water to achieve the consistency you want. The hummus should be very smooth.
5. Serve or store.

Add-ins

• If you'd like, pick one (or more) of these popular add-ins to blend into your hummus:

1. Add one teaspoon of cumin, if you like the flavor.
2. Two or three teaspoons of hot chili oil can spice things up.
3. Toss in ½ cup of roasted red peppers.
4. Or four teaspoons curry powder.
5. Include ¼ cup of sliced jalapenos.

Serving Methods

Fresh Hummus. (Creative Commons photo by Beatrice Murch)

• You've made your hummus—now enjoy!

1. The traditional method of serving hummus is alongside pita wedges as an appetizer.
2. It can also be served with fresh vegetables or meats, or even as a side dish to a main meal.
3. Hummus can look bland if it's not garnished, so give it some color and texture by serving it in bright bowls or sprinkling it with fresh parsley, cilantro, paprika, red pepper flakes, additional olive oil, chives, or pine nuts.

Variations

• Here are a few more different recipes to try:

1. AllRecipes has a recipe that replaces much of the tahini with yogurt.
2. About.com's peanut butter hummus uses peanut butter instead of tahini.
3. Or try this black bean variation from Epicurious.com, which is made with black beans in lieu of traditional chickpeas.
4. AllRecipes also has a smoky chipotle hummus recipe.

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Resources for How to Make Hummus

• About.com: Hummus Recipe – How to Make Hummus | Hummus Recipes  
• AllRecipes: Jalapeno Hummus
• AllRecipes: Curried Hummus
• AllRecipes: Easy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• BBC Food: Quick hummus
• Chowhound: Humus, Hummus, Hummous
• Cooking Nook: An Authentic, Delicious Hummus Recipe
• Epicurious: Hummus
• eHow: How to Make Hummus
• Martha Stewart: Roasted-Garlic Hummus
• Nutrition Data: Hummus, home-prepared
• O Chef: How to Make Hummus
• RecipZaar: Simple Spicy Hummus
• Wikipedia: Hummus

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