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Home » Sauce and Dips » Turkish Hummus With A Spicy Topping

Published: Jan 31, 2021 · Modified: Dec 18, 2022 by Zerrin & Yusuf

Turkish Hummus With A Spicy Topping

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There are very few things better than traditional Homemade Turkish Hummus served with fantastic accompaniments. This easy hummus recipe takes less than 5 minutes to make and can be served at any occasion. You can garnish it in an authentic style as we did here or serve it with any topping you’d like.

Homemade hummus in a bowl topped with paprika oil, parsley and sumac. A piece of bread in it.

If you love hummus, you should see our hummus without tahini, beet hummus and roasted red pepper hummus too.

There aren't many dishes that have it all, but hummus is one of them. This delicious dip crosses many cuisines, cultures, and flavor profiles, and having an authentic homemade hummus recipe is essential.

Today, we will have a look at the classic hummus recipe from Turkey. We will look at the best ingredients to use, how to make hummus, how to store it, fix its consistency and flavor, and much, much more!

Jump to:
  • Hummus In Turkey
  • Ingredients
  • Spicy Hummus Topping
  • How to Make
  • Variations
  • How To Eat
  • How To Store
  • How To Fix
  • Tips
  • FAQs
  • Other Easy Dip Recipes
  • Other Hummus Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Before diving deep into this traditional Turkish hummus recipe, let’s have a look at its origin. Over the years there have been many debates regarding when hummus was invented, however everyone can agree that it is in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.

Believe it or not, no hummus recipe in these countries is the same. Each culture has its own twist on the toppings and sides to serve with it. No matter who invented it though, everybody agrees that it is delicious! Read more information on the history of hummus dip.

Hummus In Turkey

One thing that makes a hummus Turkish is that it is never made in a blender or a food processor. The boiled chickpeas and tahini are pounded in a large pot over the stove top until almost sticky. This video is showing how it is made in its place, how it is served and eaten.

In the Southern cities of Turkey, hummus is one of the popular foods that is served for lunch. There are hummus restaurants making and serving hummus. You can even see how they make it as their kitchen is often open.

Hummus is always served warm and originally eaten as a main meal. You eat spoonful of it and never feel heaviness.

Today hummus has also become one of the staple meze dishes at restaurants. They may not be warm as the traditional ones, but still has similar toppings.

Cooked chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and cumin, tahini, garlic cloves in separate bowls and green onions on the ground from top view.

Ingredients

Turkish hummus is made with chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), salt, cumin, fresh garlic cloves, olive oil and lemon juice. These ingredients are blended together to create a perfect balance of acidity and salty-sweetness. We also use water to adjust the consistency to your desired liking.

When making hummus, chickpeas are the most important ingredient. You can either choose dried or canned chickpeas. When using dried chickpeas, you have to soak and boil them before blending them to make hummus. When using canned chickpeas, you have to rinse and drain them to remove the excess sodium. If you want an alternative, you can use lentils too as we do in our red lentil hummus recipe.

Tahini is the second important ingredient when making hummus and therefore its quality is essential. You have to choose a tahini paste that is smooth and doesn’t have any bitterness. This unappealing flavor will translate into the final product otherwise.

Spicy Hummus Topping

The Turkish style topping has a great role on the amazing taste of this hummus. It is what makes your taste buds dance!

Olive oil: It is always heated with some spices and then poured over hummus.

Spices: We use only paprika (kırmızı toz biber) in this recipe but red pepper flakes (pul biber) or Aleppo pepper can also be added for even a spicier taste. These spices are cooked with the oil to make a spicy oil sauce. Also, there is another spice that is sprinkled directly over hummus: Sumac, which gives a nice tangy taste.

Herbs: Parsley is the number one herb to top a hummus bowl. It balances the spicy flavor with its refreshing flavor. When you can't find parsley, fresh dill could be the second option. You are even free to use chopped green onions.

Seeds: Toasted sesame seeds always makes a nice connection with the tahini in hummus. Although it wouldn't be traditional, we sometimes use nigella seeds or poppy seeds too.

How to Make

This homemade Turkish hummus recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make. We would highly recommend using canned chickpeas for this quick result.

Although we are aware that it is not the traditional way of making hummus, we will be using our blender to make it easier and quicker.

A hand putting cooked chickpeas from a white bowl into a food processor. Green onions, lemon, tahini and spices are on the side.
Z hand pouring olive oil from a small white bowl over mashed chickpeas in a food processor.
A hand pouring lemon juice from a small glass bowl over mashed chickpeas in a food processor.

Prepare the chickpeas: If you are using dried chickpeas, make sure to soak and boil them first until tender. If you are using canned chickpeas, you HAVE TO rinse them well to remove the excess salt.

A hand pouring cumin and salt from a small bowl on mashed chickpeas in a food processor.
A hand pouring tahini from a small white bowl on mashed chickpeas in a food processor.

Blend the chickpeas with water in a food processor: Add in the rest of the ingredients and blend well. Adjust the consistency by adding more water until you reach the desired creaminess. Transfer it into a bowl.

Make the hot oil sauce: We will be serving this hummus in the traditional Turkish way. Heat some olive oil in a saucepan and add in paprika. Heat them together for 15-20 seconds on low heat.

Garnish and serve: Drizzle the hot sauce over the creamy hummus and top with chopped parsley and sumac. You can sprinkle red pepper flakes and sesame seeds as well if you like. Serve with pide bread or pita chunks on the side.

Variations

With Yogurt:

Although it is not traditional, a thick strained yogurt (Greek style yogurt) is sometimes added along with tahini. It adds a nice creaminess to the final result.

With Cheese:

This is another variation of Turkish hummus you can find in Adana, a city in the south of Turkey. Hummus is transferred into small earthenware clay pots (or any oven-proof bowls) and topped with a generous amount of grated cheese. They use an unsalted local cheese for this recipe and you can substitute grated mozzarella for it.

Then the cheese topped hummus is baked in the preheated oven until the cheese melts. It takes only a few minutes.

With Pastirma:

If you are a meat lover, you will fall in love with this hummus with pastirma topping. Pastirma is cooked with some oil or butter in a saucepan and then placed over hummus when serving.

How To Eat

There are thousands of modern and trendy ways hummus is being served, however, very few beats the traditional ways.

As you can see from the recipe, we use a hot oil paprika drizzle. There are various hummus toppings to choose from, but we love topping our creamy hummus with chopped parsley and sumac. Sometimes we use hot red pepper flakes or seeds like sesame or poppy seeds as well.

As a side, we serve it with delicious bread like lavash and lemon on the side. In local restaurants in the Southern part of Turkey, they always serve hummus warm for lunch accompanied by sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, pickles and onions on the side. 

Also, we love to pair hummus with several dishes like grilled halloumi cheese, chicken kabobs and vegetable kebabs.

Authentic hummus served in a bowl topped with paprika oil, sumac and parsley. Pide bread chunks and lemon wedges on the side.

How To Store

Unfortunately, homemade hummus doesn't have an infinite shelf life. Because it is made from fresh ingredients, it will generally only last a few days. Hummus should be stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.

Your homemade hummus will last between 3-5 days. When kept in the freezer, it will last up to 8 months – but only if stored following proper procedure and food safety guidelines.

Also, if you are looking for ways to use hummus in other dishes, check out the things to do with hummus. 

How To Fix

Sometimes the consistency of the hummus dip turns out a bit strange, but don’t fear, as we have all the solutions you’d need. If your consistency is too thin, simply add more chickpeas.

If your consistency is too thick, simply add more water. You can also slowly add the water instead of all of it at once. This way you can control the consistency better. 

Sometimes the lemon-flavor is too overpowering, but again, it is very easy to fix by simply adding more chickpeas.

Be careful when seasoning your homemade hummus, as too much salt is very difficult to fix and can only be done by adding a ton more chickpeas.

Creamy hummus dip in a bowl garnished with paprika oil, parsley, sumac and sesame seeds and a piece of pide bread in it.

Tips

  • If you are using canned chickpeas, check if they are soft enough. If they are firm, I’d suggest you to cook them in boiling water for 10-15 minutes so that they are wonderfully tender and fall apart. Blend them when they are still hot. I find this results in a creamier hummus.
  • Use a food processor to have the best hummus. You won’t have a good result with anything else.
  • Don’t leave cumin out. Besides giving a nice subtle flavor, cumin relaxes your stomach. Your belly needs this after having chickpeas and tahini, which might cause indigestion and gas.
  • You can create your own toppings for your hummus bowl. Check out how we sometimes get creative about garnishing ours.

FAQs

Can you make hummus in advance?

Yes, you can make hummus a few days in advance, however keep in mind that it will only last around 3-5 days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze hummus?

Hummus freezes very easily if you follow the correct steps. It will increase the shelf life to around 6-8 months. Place the hummus, without any toppings or oil drizzles, in an airtight, odor, and stain-free container. Make sure the container is freezer safe. Place a sheet of plastic or saran wrap on the skin of the hummus, and close with an airtight lid. To thaw, place the hummus in the refrigerator a day before you need it. It should slowly thaw to prevent an excessive build-up of water and a major texture change.

Is it cheaper to make your own hummus?

Hummus isn’t very expensive to buy or make. The real difference comes in the quality. Store-bought hummus will never be the same excellent quality that homemade hummus is. Making your own hummus will also result in better taste and texture.

Should you remove the skin of the chickpeas before using them?

It is not necessary to remove the skin of the chickpeas. If you boil dried chickpeas, or if you are using canned chickpeas, the skins are already soft enough and when blended, they won’t even be noticeable. If you are one of those perfectionists who want their hummus as smooth as mayo though, I found an interesting method on Cook’s Illustrated to skin chickpeas easily. They suggest using baking soda. Please go read the article to learn how.

Is Hummus Vegan?

Hummus is 100% vegan, no matter which recipe you make! The only way to make it non-vegan is by using non-vegan toppings.

Other Easy Dip Recipes

  • Yogurt Feta Dip
  • Turkish Cacik
  • Fruit Dip With Yogurt
  • Green Olive Tapenade Dip

Other Hummus Recipes

  • Red Lentil Hummus
  • Fava Bean Hummus Dip

As always: If you make this recipe, let us know what you think by rating it and leaving a comment below. And post a pic on Instagram too—tag @give_recipe so we can see!

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📖 Recipe

Turkish Hummus With A Spicy Topping

Middle Eastern style hummus with paprika oil, sumac and parsley in a bowl and a piece of pide bread in it.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

A classic creamy hummus with simple ingredients. Quick and easy to make.

  • Author: Zerrin & Yusuf
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: Middle East
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can chickpeas (15oz/425g/1 and ½ cups), rinsed and drained
  • ⅔ cup water or more if needed
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup tahini

Optional Topping:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon chopped herbs like parsley, fresh dill or green onions
  • ¼ teaspoon sumac
  • ¼ teaspoon seeds like sesame seeds, poppy seeds or nigella seeds

 

Instructions

  1. Put chickpeas and water in a food processor and blend until chickpeas are mashed. 

  2. Add in garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, cumin and tahini. Blend until smooth. Add more water if needed for a creamy result. 

  3. Taste and make adjustments. You might need to add a little extra salt or lemon juice or maybe tahini depending on your taste.

  4. Transfer the hummus in a bowl and make swirls using a teaspoon.

  5. For the topping, heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add in paprika and heat them together for about 15-20 seconds on low heat.

  6. Drizzle the hot oil sauce over the hummus. Garnish with herbs, sumac and seeds. Serve with pita or pide bread. 

Notes

  1. Store the leftover hummus covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring it to room temperature before serving.

  2. Don’t leave cumin out. Besides giving a nice subtle flavor, cumin relaxes your stomach. Your belly needs this after having chickpeas and tahini, which might cause indigestion and gas.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 246
  • Sugar: 0.3 g
  • Sodium: 419 mg
  • Fat: 19 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.8 g
  • Protein: 7.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: classic hummus recipe, authentic hummus dip, homemade hummus, how to make hummus

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @give_recipe on Instagram and hashtag it #giverecipe

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  • Homemade Hummus Without Tahini
  • Turkish Baba Ganoush Without Tahini
  • Turkish Spicy Ezme Salad
  • How To Make Spicy Guacamole
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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Shirine says

    August 10, 2021 at 2:46 am

    Oh my goodness! The that topping took the hummus to a whole new level. LOVE it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Yusuf says

      August 10, 2021 at 3:51 am

      Our favorite! Can eat anything when topped with that spicy oil.

      Reply
  2. Liz says

    May 29, 2017 at 8:46 am

    been looking for a humis recipe . Looking forward to trying this

    Reply
    • Zerrin says

      May 30, 2017 at 12:35 am

      Hi Liz! Would love to hear your opinion when you have a chance to try it.

      Reply

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Meet Zerrin and Yusuf Gunaydin: The couple behind this blog. We bring Turkish food into your kitchen! From kebabs to desserts, everything you crave is here.

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