Hummus Dip is a Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern spread made with chickpeas and tahini, then seasoned with lemon, garlic, and cumin. This extremely creamy, smooth & fresh dip comes together in just 25 minutes!
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Once you try this incredibly delicious yet simple Mediterranean Hummus recipe, you will never want to buy a pre-packed one from the supermarket.
What is Hummus?
Hummus is one of the most popular dips/mezze/spreads originating from the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
The most simple version of hummus is made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. However, there are many different variations of Hummus dip created by adding different flavorings such as roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, beetroot, or different spices such as chili, cayenne, or paprika.
Hummus can be served warm or cold, as a dip, appetizer, or as a spread.
Why This Recipe Works?
- It is very easy to make this delicious dip with step-by-step instructions and pictures.
- You can serve this delicious hummus as a dip or use it as a spread to make wraps & sandwiches.
- You can add flavorings such as roasted red pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted garlic.
- This smooth and silky Mediterranean Hummus Dip is nutty and tangy, thanks to the tahini and fresh lemon juice.
Ingredients and Substitutes
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are the star ingredient and the base for hummus. I prefer using canned chickpeas as it is quicker and it doesn't make any difference to the taste.
If you want to use dried chickpeas, you can check my Turkish Lamb Stew With Chickpeas recipe if you want to know how to cook them. For this recipe, you need to overcook the chickpeas for a smooth and creamy hummus dip.
If you use canned chickpeas, cook them for another 15 to 20 minutes, until they are almost mushy.
Tahini
Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds. Always make sure to use good quality tahini and give it a good stir before using it as the oil accumulates on top of the sesame paste in time.
Place the leftover tahini in the fridge and keep it refrigerated until needed.
To make a deliciously smooth Hummus Dip, you will also need:
- Olive oil - It gives a smooth texture to hummus. I use extra virgin olive oil and also drizzle a little on top for garnish.
- Lemon juice - I always use lemon juice squeezed from fresh lemons instead of bottled lemon juice for a fresher and more delicious taste.
- Garlic - Using the garlic from the bulb instead of pre-peeled garlic improves the taste. Adjust the amount to your taste.
- Cumin - It is a great ingredient that adds a bit of spice to hummus. You can omit it if you don't like the taste.
- Ice cubes - Adding ice cubes gives the hummus a fluffier and softer texture. Use a few drops of ice-cold water instead if you don’t have ice cubes, or if you don't have a powerful food processor.
How to Make Smooth Hummus Dip?
Although this is a very simple recipe, you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results:
Prepare The Chickpeas
If you have time, you can cook dried chickpeas beforehand, preferably with a good quality pressure cooker. You need to soak the chickpeas overnight before cooking them and then cook them until very soft, and almost mushy.
When using canned chickpeas, drain the water and then place the chickpeas in a saucepan with some fresh water and ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda. Cook them for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are almost mushy. When cooked, drain and then put them under cold running water.
Blitz
Blitz the garlic with lemon juice and salt in your food processor, and let it rest for 10 minutes to lose the garlic's harsh taste.
Meanwhile, try to discard as much skin from the chickpeas as you can for a creamy & smooth hummus texture.
Add tahini paste, chickpeas, cumin powder, ice cubes, or some cold water. Ice cubes are necessary to achieve a fluffy texture.
Start blitzing while slowly adding the olive oil, until the mixture gets smooth & creamy.
You can garnish and serve your hummus using olive oil, whole chickpeas, cumin powder, paprika, chili flakes, sumac, pomegranate seeds, and sesame seeds.
How to Serve Mediterranean Hummus Dip?
When you serve and garnish the hummus, your options are unlimited. Every culture has its own hummus recipe and different ways of serving this delicious dip.
While some cultures serve hummus as an appetizer, some serve it as a warm dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
You can serve it with Greek Pita Bread, Homemade Wheat Tortilla Bread, or Garlic Naan (Indian Flatbread) as well as some colorful crudités (sliced vegetables) or Lebanese Falafel balls as a dip.
You can use it as a spread to make wraps or sandwiches.
In Turkey, hummus is mainly considered mezze and is usually topped with “pastirma” (air-dried Turkish cured beef). If you can get your hands on pastirma from your local Turkish market, or even better, if you are in Turkey, I highly recommend you try this amazing combination.
Top Tips From the Chef
- Blitz the garlic with lemon juice and salt in your food processor, and let it rest for 10 minutes to lose the garlic's harsh taste.
- For a smooth and silky Hummus Dip, cook the canned chickpeas for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are almost mushy. If using fried chickpeas, soak them overnight, and cook them for about 2 hours, or until soft and almost mushy.
- Also, peeling the chickpeas will give you smoother and silkier Hummus! However, you can keep the skin and have a more rustic hummus which will still taste amazing.
- If the consistency of your hummus is too thin, add some more tahini to thicken it. If it is too thick, gradually add a few drops of ice-cold water until you achieve the desired texture.
- Adding ice cubes or cold water to your hummus while blending gives it a fluffier texture.
Recipe FAQs
Tahini is a paste made from toasted sesame seeds and is widely used in Turkish, Middle Eastern, and North African cuisine. It is a major ingredient in hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva.
You can freeze hummus in an airtight container and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure you don't fill the container to its full capacity as hummus expands a little as it freezes.
Leftover Hummus would keep for up to 5 days when refrigerated in an airtight container.
Related Recipes
For more delicious Middle Eastern recipes why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Mediterranean Hummus Dip as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!
Mediterranean Hummus Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 240 g cooked chickpeas (one can)
- ¼ cup lemon juice (from 1 ½ to 2 lemons)
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 120 g tahini paste
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 3 ice cubes or cold water
Instructions
- Drain the chickpeas and put them in a pan.
- Cover with fresh water and add bicarbonate of soda.
- Cook for 15 minutes or until they get really soft and mushy.
- Drain and peel the skin under cold running water.
- Blitz the garlic, salt and lemon juice in a food processor and leave for 5 minutes (that will help to mellow the garlic).
- Add tahini paste, chickpeas, cumin powder, ice cubes or some cold water and start blitzing while slowly adding the olive oil, until the mixture gets creamy.
- Add a few drops of ice-cold water if the mixture is too thick.
Notes
- Blitz the garlic with lemon juice and salt in your food processor, and let it rest for 10 minutes to lose the garlic's harsh taste.
- For a smooth and silky Hummus Dip, cook the canned chickpeas for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are almost mushy. If using fried chickpeas, soak them overnight, and cook them for about 2 hours, or until soft and almost mushy.
- Also, peeling the chickpeas will give you smoother and silkier Hummus! However, you can keep the skin and have a more rustic hummus which will still taste amazing.
- If the consistency of your hummus is too thin, add some more tahini to thicken it. If it is too thick, gradually add a few drops of ice-cold water until you achieve the desired texture.
- Adding ice cubes or cold water to your hummus while blending gives it a fluffier texture.
Nutrition
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Ayla
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe!! It is the most authentic I have tried. We love Middle Eastern food but live in a very rural area, which is not readily available. I have tried other recipes, but this is the closest I have ever come to perfection! Tastes great and is very easy to put together.