Name: Perfect Hummus
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 1/4 cup lemon juice; 1/2 -3/4 cup tahini paste (See notes. Make sure it tastes fresh, not bitter or rancid.); 2-3 garlic cloves; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup water, more to desired consistency; 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste; 1/4 teaspoon pepper (I love white pepper here, up to you); 1 teaspoon cumin; 14-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained (1/2 cup dried chickpeas, cooked- see notes); preserved lemons (1-2 tablespoons blended in); olive brine or caper brine (1-2 teaspoons blended in); smoked paprika (1/2 teaspoon for smoky flavor); zaatar or sumac -sprinkled over top or blended in; zhoug – garnish or blended in (1-2 tablespoons); gremolata – garnish or blended in ( 1-2 tablespoons); harissa paste – garnish or blended in ( 1-2 tablespoons); Romesco Sauce – garnish or blended in; Meyer Lemon Gremolata ( 1-2 tablespoons, overtop); Chimichurri Sauce (garnish); Yogurt or Labneh ( 1-2 tablespoons blended in) for extra creamy; Tender herbs- parsley, mint, dill, basil – sprinkled overtop or blended in; toasted pinenuts – garnish; toasted sesame seeds– garnish; marinated or warm roasted tomatoes- garnish; warm olives-create a well and pile it in the middle; fresh garden veggies – (carrots, cucs, radishes, snap peas, jicama, celery, tomatoes, etc); warm ratatouille– garnish- pile it overtop.; marinated feta cubes ( or baby mozzarella balls); Marinated Fava beans; Marinated Veggies

The perfect Hummus Recipe –loaded up with creamy tahini, garlic, lemon and beautiful garden veggies. Adaptable, easy and can be made in 10 minutes. Make this with canned chickpeas or dried chickpeas. Vegan, creamy and authentic! Video

How to make the BEST Hummus! This authentic hummus recipe is light and creamy and so easy to make! Use canned or dried chickpeas and serve it up with fresh garden veggies! #hummus #hummusrecipe

I know what you’re thinking. Your hummus is already perfect. 🙂 And guess what? It totally is! That’s why, until now I’ve never posted a recipe for basic hummus on the blog, because I know how amazingly perfect your hummus already is!

We each have our own idea of what makes the best hummus – there are so many variables, so many preferences. It is very personal!

To me, the best hummus is ultra-creamy, loaded with tahini –I want to taste that tahini or I’m just not satisfied! I like an extra kick of garlic, and I’m liberal with salt and lemon. I love to finish it with flaky salt, olive oil, sumac and zaatar and then sprinkle the heck out of it with fresh herbs.

But this is what pleases my palate- the way I grew up eating it, so it speaks to me.

And I get it, your version may be totally different and that is OK. That’s the amazing thing about hummus. You can make it exactly how you like it. No rules here. EVER.

So I’m NOT going to try to change you, or your already perfect hummus today, just present you with some ideas. 🙂

The BEST Hummus Recipe | 60-sec Video

Why make hummus from Scratch?

Store-bought hummus, even high-quality, organic brands, often contain highly refined seed oils (canola, soy, sunflower, safflower, etc.). These, when overly consumed can be highly inflammatory to the body. See for yourself – check the label. Most organic hummus is not made with just olive oil. When we consume these every once in a while it is probably fine, but when overly consumed (refined seed oils are in almost all processed foods, even organic, vegan ones!) can be highly inflammatory to the body. So that is why I try to make my own hummus most of the time. Do as you like. 😉

My Favorite Hummus Recipe

This hummus recipe (yes, of course, I’ll share my idea of “perfect hummus”) is also about how to make it pretty with a few catering tips on how to really bump up the flavor. Because I know you like that sort of thing. So take what you want from this and make it your own.

hummus ingredients

Basic Hummus Ingredients:

Here are the ingredients for basic authentic Hummus. (See the recipe card for specific measurements)

chickpeas (or sub any bean!) dried, or canned
tahini paste
lemon juice
garlic
cumin (or coriander)
olive oil (optional, but good)
salt
pepper (white pepper is delicious here)

Ways to Elevate Hummus:

And here is what you can add to make your hummus spectacular! (just pick 1 or 2)

preserved lemons (1-2 tablespoons blended in)
olive brine or caper brine (1-2 teaspoons blended in)
smoked paprika (1/2 teaspoon for smoky flavor)
zaatar, sumac or Dukkah, sprinkled over top or blended in
zhoug – garnish or blended in (1-2 tablespoons)
gremolata – garnish or blended in ( 1-2 tablespoons)
harissa paste – garnish or blended in ( 1-2 tablespoons)
Romesco Sauce – garnish or blended in
Preserved Lemon Gremolata ( 1-2 tablespoons, overtop)
Chimichurri Sauce (garnish)
Yogurt or Labneh ( 1-2 tablespoons blended in) for extra creamy
Tender herbs- parsley, mint, dill, basil – sprinkled overtop or blended in
toasted pinenuts – garnish
Sundried tomatoes- overtop or blended in
toasted sesame seeds– garnish
marinated or warm roasted tomatoes- garnish
warm olives-create a well and pile it in the middle
fresh rainbow veggies – (carrots, cucs, radishes, snap peas, jicama, celery, tomatoes, etc)
warm ratatouille– garnish- pile it overtop.
marinated feta cubes (or baby mozzarella balls)
Marinated Fava beans
Marinated Veggies
kalamata olives or jumbo Caperberries

how to make homemade hummus

How to Make the BEST Hummus:

Here is a basic overview of how to make Creamy Authentic Hummus (Detailed instructions are provided in the recipe box below!).

BLEND HUMMUS: Place lemon juice, garlic cloves, tahini paste olive oil and water in a food processor– whip this up until creamy. Then add the salt, pepper, cumin, chickpeas and blend until really really smooth. Add more cold water, a tablespoon at a time until it is the consistency you like and blend the heck out of this! Blend for at least a full minute or two!

PLATTER: Spoon the ultra-creamy hummus into a wide shallow bowl or onto a plate or platter, creating a “well” for the olive oil (or other sauces) with the back of your spoon.

Add your toppings: If using garden veggies, peel the carrots, prep other veggies, cutting all into small bite-sized “crudites” and arrange like the photos, tucking into the hummus -0r just play around with this and do your own thing.

Drizzle with olive oil. Scatter with fresh herbs. Sprinkle with spices- sumac, zaatar or dukkah!

creamy hummus recipe

Remember to create that “well” for the olive oil!

authentic hummus recipe and how to serve hummus

Here below is my “basic” hummus garnish. Olive oil, sumac, zaatar and herbs. Simply served with pita bread.

the best hummus recipe

But more often I’ll often play with what I have on hand.

How to make Hummus and how to serve it! This hummus recipe is creamy, authentic, fast and easy! #hummus

Today it was these lovely farmers’ market veggies, cut into bite-sized pieces or crudites.

how to serve hummus

Just start tucking them it- perhaps find your own style. Play around with this- it is fun!

How to make Hummus! Truly, the BEST hummus recipe- creamy, authentic and so easy to make! Use canned or dried chickpeas & serve w/ veggies!

Sprinkle the hummus with fresh herbs, and zaatar spice.

How to make Hummus! Truly, the BEST hummus recipe- creamy, authentic and so easy to make! Use canned or dried chickpeas & serve w/ veggies!

And there you have it. Creamy authentic hummus, made in about 10 minutes. So easy, so much fun. Such a beautiful way to serve up the bounty of veggies we have during the summer months! A delicious, healthy high-protein snack to have on hand.

xoxo

Sylvia