Smooth and Creamy Hummus with 4 Flavorful Twists

Smooth and creamy hummus is an easy snack or dinner option that we make at least twice a month at this house!  You’ll find all the tips and tricks for making a flavorful hummus with a dreamy whipped texture below.  You’ll also find four additional flavor variations that will make any hummus lover happy.

Hummus is a truly family-friendly recipe that my kids love to have for lunches, snacks, and dinner.  The basic hummus recipe contains a subtle garlic flavor, bright lemony notes, and plenty of richness from the tahini.  It’s perfect as-is, but feel free to try out all four of the additional flavors to see what version your family loves best!

Try this dessert hummus recipe next for a chocolatey twist on hummus!

If you’re looking to up your snacking or happy hour game, this hummus recipe is a great start.  You can also try these Charcuterie Skewers or Caprese Focaccia for some great options to share!

Ingredients

I include ingredient notes here when I think they’ll be helpful, including ways to source, any preparation tips, or why I've chosen a particular ingredient. Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!

• Garbanzo Beans: Also known as ceci beans, or chickpeas, canned garbanzo beans make this recipe so much easier than starting from dried beans.  Quality matters here, use a trusted brand for the most tender beans that are easiest to peel.  I’ve had great luck with S&W brand. 
• Garlic: A single clove of garlic is all that’s needed to flavor the basic hummus.  The garlic goes into the recipe uncooked, but the lemon juice and tahini will help mellow the pungency.
• Lemon Juice: Use fresh lemon juice, don’t even bother with bottled juice.
• Tahini: Tahini is made from hulled or unhulled toasted ground sesame seeds.  It has a warm and nutty flavor that has a slightly bitter note.  Like a natural peanut butter, the paste will settle with a layer of oil on top when stored. Simply stir the tahini before measuring for the recipe.
• Kosher Salt: Salt is an important ingredient in hummus, and helps to brighten the flavor of the beans.  Start with half the amount called for in the recipe and add extra as needed to suit your taste.  Salt levels in the beans vary wildly, so this will help you balance the flavors in your hummus.

Instructions

The best way to ensure a smooth and creamy hummus is to peel your canned garbanzo beans.  You heard that right, you’ll remove the skin from each bean by hand.  It feels tedious, but I look at it as a chance for a little bit of kitchen meditation time.  Pop on a good playlist and you’ll be done in no time.  It’s a great activity for a kid to do to help out in the kitchen, too!

Drain and rinse your canned beans, reserving the liquid if desired (see the Top Tip below).  Place each bean between your thumb and forefinger and press lightly.  The skin from the bean should pop right off, leaving you with a darker, shiny bean. You can save the bean skins for vegetable stock or compost them.

To the bottom of a blender or food processor, add the tahini, garlic clove, salt, and lemon juice.  Blend or process this mixture until the garlic is well minced and the tahini is smooth.

Add the peeled beans to the tahini mixture and blend or process until smooth.  Scrape down the sides a few times in the process to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

Check the texture of your hummus after a minute or so of blending.  You should end up with a smooth and creamy hummus texture.  If you find you are having trouble getting the texture you want, try adding an extra tablespoon of water or the liquid from the drained beans.

Toppings for Hummus

You can top your hummus with so many delicious things, but we most often use a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sumac powder.  Sumac is a dark red color with bright, tart, and slightly floral flavor.  I find it at our Asian grocery store and in better stocked supermarkets.

Here are some great ideas for toppings for hummus to make it as delicious and special as you want:

• Herbs: Try some chopped parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, or rosemary sprinkled over the top of your hummus.
• Fried or Roasted Garbanzo Beans: Toss chickpeas in oil and a mix of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and roast or fry them in a skillet for a delicious hummus topping.
• Nuts or Seeds: Toast up some sesame seeds, slivered almonds, or pine nuts to top your hummus:
• Spices:  Dust the top of the hummus with ground cumin, coriander, chili powder, or a spice blend like za’atar, everything bagel seasoning, or chili garlic crunch.

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus with Basil

Sweet sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil are a knockout combination and they make a great addition to the basic hummus recipe.  This sun dried tomato hummus with basil is a vibrant orange color and is great when served with pita chips at a summer picnic.

Drain your sun dried tomatoes from any oil (don’t toss that flavor packed oil!) and slice them if they are whole.  Gather a small bunch of basil leaves.  Reserve a bit of both the tomatoes and basil for a garnish.

Prepare the hummus as directed in the recipe card, adding the tomatoes and basil when you add in the garbanzo beans.  Transfer your hummus to a bowl and top with the reserved garnish and a drizzle of the oil from the sun dried tomatoes.

Pine Nut Hummus with Rosemary

Buttery pine nuts and fragrant rosemary make this variation a rich and aromatic version of the basic hummus recipe.  This hummus is delicious when paired with toasted flatbreads or focaccia.

Toast the pine nuts in oil in a skillet until they are golden.  Don’t walk away or take your eye off things, pine nuts can burn in just a few seconds!  Add in the rosemary for the last few seconds, the residual heat will help make the flavor pop.  Reserve some of the toasted pine nuts and rosemary for garnish.

Add the nuts and leaves of the rosemary (strip them from the woody stem) to the garbanzo beans when blending up the hummus.  Transfer your pine nut hummus with rosemary to a serving bowl and garnish with the toasted nuts and rosemary sprig.

Cilantro Hummus with Jalapeño

I love the bright and subtly spicy kick that cilantro and jalapeño give to hummus.  This cilantro hummus with jalapeño has a pretty green color and is perfect when served with tortilla chips.

Use the leaves and stems of cilantro for the best flavor.  You can vary the spice level of your hummus by adding a whole or half jalapeno and either choosing to remove the seeds and membranes (which are the spiciest parts of the pepper) or keep them intact.  Keep a few rings of jalapeño and a few leaves of cilantro for garnish.

Prepare the hummus as directed in the recipe card, adding the jalapeno and cilantro along with the garbanzo beans.  Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl and garnish with the reserved jalapeño and cilantro.

Pink Hummus with Beets

Pink hummus is a stunner on a veggie platter and a special favorite with kids.  How do you get that color?  Beets!  I use packaged roasted beets to keep things simple.  The brighter in color your beets, the more vibrant your pink hummus will be.

Use roasted and peeled beets and chop them into smaller pieces before making the hummus.  Packaged beets that have already been roasted and peeled can be found in the refrigerated are of your produce section at larger supermarkets and Trader Joe’s.

Follow the directions in the recipe card and add the chopped beets to the hummus along with the chickpeas.  Transfer your hummus to a serving bowl and top with parsley for beautiful color contrast.  Serve this hummus with a variety of vegetables.

Equipment

I use one of three different pieces of equipment to make smooth and creamy hummus.  A high-powered blender makes truly smooth hummus as long as you scrape down the sides often.  You can also use a food processor with good results, though I sometimes find that the single clove of garlic flies around quite a bit and doesn’t get well processed until the chickpeas are added.  Finally, an immersion blender can do the job as long as there is enough liquid to get things started and you use a vessel that will hold all of your ingredients well.

What to Serve with Hummus

You can serve hummus with a variety of breads (pita bread, focaccia, flatbreads) or crackers.  We often serve our hummus with pretzel thins or sesame crackers, too.  Pair hummus with vegetables like bell pepper strips, carrot coins, celery sticks, cucumbers, radishes, or snap peas.

Hummus can be used as the base for a salad dressing when some extra lemon juice and olive oil are mixed in.  You can use it as a spread or filling in sandwiches or wraps along with shredded lettuce, tomato, and grilled meats.

Make This Recipe Kid Friendly

Hummus is a perfect snack for kids that like to dip.  Serve hummus to your crew with their favorite dippers like pretzels, carrots, veggie straws, cucumber, or crackers.  Hummus can be a great alternative dinner option for a kid who is struggling to eat what is offered at your dinner table.

For more suggestions and strategies to help feed your picky eaters and stay sane, check out this post on Keeping Peace with Picky Eaters!

Storage

Hummus should be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in your refrigerator.  Hummus freezes well too!  Store it in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to three months.  Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and give it a good mix before serving.  Add a tablespoon of water if the hummus is too thick.

Top Tip

The liquid you strain from the canned garbanzo beans is called aquafaba.  Aquafaba can be used in other recipes as an egg replacement!  You can also add it to your hummus in place of the water for an even thicker and creamier texture.

FAQ

More Recipes with Garbanzo Beans

Garbanzo beans are a great way to add protein and fiber to your meals.  Try these recipes for a new way to incorporate them into your menu:

Make a Snack Spread

An easy way to entertain is to combine one of these hummus variations with a few other spreads and offer plenty of crackers or bread and vegetables.  Any of the recipes below would make a great addition to a snack spread:

Try It and Share

I hope you love this recipe for smooth and creamy hummus and find a variation that is a favorite in your house! Tag your photo with #planeatpostrepeat and mention me @planeatpostrepeat on Instagram or Facebook. I can give you a virtual high five and thank you for cooking one of my recipes! Comment below with any questions and please leave a review so others can find this recipe more easily.