Recipes, Tips, and Tricks to Make Your Own Hummus

By Teresa Garvey, MS, RD, CSOWM, Registered Dietitian
Virtua Food Farmacy

Now that you’ve read about the delicious health benefits of hummus, here’s a basic recipe to get you started if you decide to make it at home. You’ll spend less money and enjoy more control over the taste.

Ingredients

2 cups of well-cooked or canned chickpeas, drained

½ cup of tahini (sesame seed paste)

¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Juice of one lemon

Salt to taste

Combine all of these ingredients in a food processor or blender. The consistency will vary depending on the appliance you choose, but both work well. You can even use an old-fashioned mortar and pestle if you’re willing to add a little elbow grease. As you blend, add seasoning and stop to taste it until it suits your particular palate.

Do you like it as-is or with add-ins?

Basic hummus is delicious as prepared above, but you also can add a variety of spices or veggies to suit your taste. Try red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, cooked sweet potatoes, pine nuts and basil, cucumbers, or cayenne or chipotle pepper for heat.

Butternut squash hummus is a favorite variation. To make it, roast about one cup of butternut squash, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. Once cooled, add it to the basic recipe above with ½ to 1 teaspoon of curry powder.

Go ahead—make a big batch

Another great thing about making hummus at home is you can freeze it. You can make one large batch and freeze it in small freezer-safe bags or containers to enjoy for up to 3 months. Make sure you leave enough room for the hummus to expand, and add a thin drizzle of olive oil to the top to help it stay moist. Wait until you defrost it to add extra seasoning or add-ins, which will boost any flavor lost in the freezer.

Use hummus for more than a dip

Most people think pita chips or carrot sticks when it comes to eating hummus as a dip, but there are lots more ways to add hummus to your diet. You can use it as a substitute for mayo on sandwiches and wraps, or on salads in place of dressing.

Take your homemade hummus to the next level

Next time you're heading to a party, make this 7-Layer Hummus Dip that rivals the traditional Tex-Mex party favorite.

Place the following in a large glass baking dish:

Layer 1: Pesto (a paste made of basil, pine nuts, and olive oil)

Layer 2: Hummus

Layer 3: Chopped tomatoes

Layer 4: Chopped scallions and fresh cilantro

Layer 5: Crumbled feta cheese

Layer 6: Pine nuts

Layer 7: Sliced black olives

Serve it with whole wheat pita chips—and watch it disappear!  

Updated June 29, 2021