There are very few things better than traditional Homemade 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.
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. 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!
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Where Did It Originate?
Before diving deep into this traditional 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.
Classic Hummus Ingredients
Classic homemade 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.
Tahini is also a very important ingredient when making homemade 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.
How to Make Hummus Easily
This homemade hummus recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make. We would highly recommend using canned chickpeas for this quick result. The recipe has 4 folds.
First, 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.
Second, 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.
Third, make the hot 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.
Finally, 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 or pita chunks on the side.
Eating Hummus Traditionally
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 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.
How Long Can It Be Stored?
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.
Alternative Flavors
Hummus is an incredibly versatile and flexible dish. We have loads of different hummus flavors on our site including cauliflower hummus, red pepper hummus, and beetroot hummus.
How To Fix Hummus
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.
What To Make With Leftover Hummus
Hummus is always a great substitute for mayo or other sauces in several recipes. For example, make our Hummus Deviled Eggs Recipe and get amazed to see how they are as tasty as the ones made with mayo.
Also, if you are looking for more ways to use hummus in other dishes, check out the things to do with hummus.
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.
Tips On Hummus Dip
- 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.
Other Hummus Recipes
Other Easy Dip Recipes
📖 Recipe
Creamy Homemade Hummus
A classic creamy hummus with simple ingredients. Quick and easy to make.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Middle East
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 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
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Put chickpeas and water in a food processor and blend until chickpeas are mashed.
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Add in garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, cumin and tahini. Blend until smooth. Add more water if needed for a creamy result.
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Taste and make adjustments. You might need to add a little extra salt or lemon juice or maybe tahini depending on your taste.
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Transfer the hummus in a bowl and make swirls using a teaspoon.
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For the topping, heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add in paprika and heat them together for about 15-20 seconds on low heat.
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Drizzle the hot oil sauce over the hummus. Garnish with herbs, sumac and seeds. Serve with pita or pide bread.
Notes
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Store the leftover hummus covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring it to room temperature before serving.
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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.
Keywords: classic hummus recipe, authentic hummus dip, homemade hummus, how to make hummus
Liz says
been looking for a humis recipe . Looking forward to trying this
Zerrin says
Hi Liz! Would love to hear your opinion when you have a chance to try it.