Just so we’re operating on the same page, hummus, by definition, is a delicious dip or spread crafted from chickpeas, spices, tahini, and lemons.
In this post, I will share with you 6 different ways you can prepare a smooth hummus recipe from scratch.
How to make hummus: step-by-step basic, easy hummus recipe
With a few tricks, I am easily able to create smooth, creamy homemade hummus that I truly believe is better than what is normally purchased at the local grocery store.
Soak chickpeas overnight in water {at least 6 hours}.
Place drained chickpeas in a pot with 3 cups of fresh water and bring to a boil.
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt and simmer for about 20 minutes.
Let cool and add water to get desired consistency.
Add tahini, lemon juice, and desired amount of olive oil.
Season with salt, pepper, and cumin (optional).
How to get a smooth hummus texture
Making hummus is not rocket science. To make a to-die-for creamy hummus, however, you’d need these advanced tricks:
Use good quality chickpeas
If you use old and hard chickpeas, then your hummus will not look good.
Soak the chickpeas in baking soda
You can skip the baking soda if you have it not on hand, but it really makes a difference.
Blend in ice cold water or add ice cubes
After you strain the chickpeas, put them in the blender, add a little bit of cold water or ice cubes, and blend.
Pro tip:
Aquafaba, the liquid residue from canned chickpeas, is the last trick to ensure a smooth, creamy, whipped texture.
How to make hummus with garlic
Fresh garlic adds an extra raw flavor punch to the hummus. A single small clove is just right. But you can use as much garlic as you want. Now, simply peel the garlic cloves, smash them in a bowl, and add them to your mix.
I like to use 4 to 5 cloves of garlic, but it is up to you!
You can also experiment with roasted garlic. Like peppers, they can be store purchased this way or roasted yourself.
How to make hummus without tahini
If you’re not a fan of the tangy flavor of tahini, you may find yourself asking, “Can you make hummus without tahini?”
The answer is yes!
I understand that some people aren’t fans of certain ingredients’ tastes, so I suggest simply leaving out tahini in your recipe and adding a different nut butter to your remaining ingredients.
You can still achieve that creamy texture and as long as all other flavors remain intact, it’ll be fine.
However, there are also plenty of replacements for tahini outside of nuts. Sesame paste is similar to peanut butter with a lot of health benefits attached to it – but some people aren’t big fans of sesame paste’s taste either.
So instead we recommend using alternative sources like sunflower seed butter or even other forms of Argan oil !
Just remember that any replacement doesn’t have to be identical in taste – it just needs to help create that same kind of flavor profile.
How to make roasted pepper hummus
Most stores will sell jars containing roasted red bell peppers, so in the event you don’t feel like doing the roasting yourself, jarred peppers will work fine.
However, if you do, it’s not at all complicated. For the purpose of keeping things simple, I like to remove the pepper core, then cut it into several flat pieces.
This way, they can be placed, skin-side up, onto a sheet for baking, then broil until the skin gets charred.
Next, let the peppers steam in a sealable plastic wrap. This helps pull the skin away from the pepper and make it extremely easy to peel.
When ready, take them out of the container, then place them on top of your hummus mix.
How to make beet hummus
Peel and cut the beets into cubes.
Place them on a tray and drizzle a bit of olive oil over the beets. Then, wrap them in aluminum foil and bake in the oven for about 60 minutes or until tender.
When happy with the consistency, remove and cool in the fridge for 45 to 60 minutes.
Once cooled, blend beets in a food processor with all other hummus ingredients. Season as needed, adding more salt, lemon juice, or olive oil.
To get to a creamy, smooth texture, make sure to follow the tricks we mentioned earlier.
Finally, transfer to a bowl, garnish with parsley or pine seeds, and serve with carrots or any other crunchy vegetables of choice.