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This homemade hummus recipe is quick and easy to make, super-smooth and creamy, and tastes so fresh and flavorful!
This past month, I’ve been on a mission to improve my hummus game. ♡
I’ve had a basic hummus recipe here on the blog that I’ve made and enjoyed for years. But while it was good — I have to admit — it wasn’t knock-your-socks-off great. And ever since we became regulars at this little falafel joint here in Barcelona that introduced us to the creamiest, dreamiest, smoothest, most-flavorful hummus ever, I knew that I needed to go back to the drawing board and kick my old hummus recipe up a notch.
And thus — the hummus testing began.
My first mission was to improve the flavor of my hummus, which was actually a piece of cake. More tahini, more lemon juice, more garlic, and more salt instantly livened and brightened up the flavor of this dip. Plus a generous sprinkle of ground sumac on top (the preferred spice of our falafel spot), or maybe some paprika if you prefer.
My second mission was to improve the texture of my hummus and make it as silky-smooth as possible, which ended up being a total recipe-testing rabbit hole. Turns out that the internet is full of opinions about exactly how to achieve the perfect creamy texture, most of which have to do with how to cook your chickpeas. So in the quest for killer hummus, I put on my Ali’s Test Kitchen hat and tried ’em all. From Solmonov’s famous method of soaking dried chickpeas overnight and then boiling them until they are overcooked in baking soda, to Epicurious’ shortened method of just boiling a can of chickpeas in water for 20 minutes, to Melissa Clark’s scratch Instant Pot hummus, to the Washington Post’s super-speedy method of pureeing the hummus for a full 3 minutes in the food processor, to various tips from around the internet to incorporate aquafaba, use a blender, and (ugh) individually peel every one of those little chickpeas — well, let’s just say it’s a good thing that Barclay and I love hummus because we’re nearly twenty batches in this month (and counting).
Our conclusion?
I hate to say it, but the difference between most of these methods was surprisingly microscopic. From the way that people talk online, I was expecting pretty dramatic differences between the various methods once we lined our batches of hummus up side by side for round after round of blind taste-testing. But most of our conversations ended up being like, “Dang, I don’t know, I mean maybe batch three is a teeny bit smoother than batch four?! Maybe?”
In the end, the most game-changing factor for us ended up being the easiest, quickest, almost-hate-to-admit-it-after-all-of-that-testing step of all — simply pureeing your hummus an extra few minutes in the food processor. I know, it seems so obvious. But giving the food processor a few extra minutes to work its magic seemed to be the key factor in achieving that perfectly creamy, light, whipped texture that we were going for.
That said, yes, the flavor and texture may have been a tiny bit better with boiled-from-scratch chickpeas, either made on the stove or in the Instant Pot. Or yes, if you’re using canned chickpeas and have an extra 20 minutes to boil them before pureeing, the texture may be just a tiny bit creamier. But honestly, after blitzing our final three batches for 4 full minutes in the food processor — one with chickpeas boiled from scratch, one with canned chickpeas boiled for 20 minutes, and one with chickpeas just straight outta the can — Barclay and I couldn’t even reach an agreement with blind taste-testing about which one was the smoothest. Those extra few minutes in the food processor seemed to even them all out!
Anyway, I know that hummus-making opinions on the internet are very passionate. So to each hummus maker, his or her own. But, if you’d like to try the winning recipe and method that we landed on in our house after our hummus-a-thon, here it is!
Classic Hummus | 1-Minute Video
What Is Hummus?
Alright, first let’s back up for a sec — just exactly what is hummus? In case this is new to you, it’s a classic dish from the Middle East and Mediterranean made primarily from chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), tahini (ground sesame paste), lemon juice, garlic and salt. Various countries add in their own staple ingredients, like ground cumin. And of course, if you look for hummus at any American grocery store nowadays, there are about a million variations that you can buy. It can be served warm or cold, as a dip or as a spread, and above all, it’s downright delicious.
Hummus Ingredients
One of the other things I love about making homemade hummus is that most all of the ingredients can be found in your pantry, making this an easy impromptu dip to make for parties, game day, or a regular ol’ delicious weeknight dinner. You will need:
Chickpeas*: I simply recommend buying a can of good organic chickpeas, which we will rinse and drain and add straight to the hummus.
Tahini: Since this ingredient is arguably the most prominent flavor in hummus, I recommend purchasing a jar of good-quality tahini.
Garlic: This recipe calls for two cloves, but feel free to double that if you would like more garlicky flavor.
Lemon juice: Fresh, please!
Ground cumin: I absolutely love the added flavor of some cumin in hummus.
Olive oil: We will incorporate some into the hummus itself, and then drizzle extra on top for serving.
Salt: I always use fine sea salt.
Cold water: This is another game-changing ingredient when it comes to the texture of your hummus. If it’s too thick and not smoothing out, just add in some more water.
*Or, as I mentioned earlier, feel free to instead use:
Chickpeas that have been cooked from scratch: Either in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop. I recommend overcooking them a bit to slightly soften the chickpeas and loosen up the skins.
Canned chickpeas that have been simmered for 20 minutes: If you have the extra time, just rinse and drain your chickpeas. Transfer them to a saucepan and cover with an extra inch or two of water. Then bring to a simmer, continue simmering for 20 minutes, and drain. If you happen to buy a brand of chickpeas that seems to be harder and undercooked — I’ve found that brands can vary significantly — this method may be helpful.
Then, of course, there are the toppings. For a classic batch of hummus, I recommend drizzling some olive oil on top of the dip, and then sprinkling it with either ground sumac or paprika, plus maybe a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley. But the sky’s the limit with other toppings you could add! Toasted pine nuts, chopped roasted red peppers, and everything bagel seasoning are a few of my other faves.
How To Make Hummus
To make this hummus recipe, simply:
Puree the first seven ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Tahini, cold water, olive oil, cumin, salt, garlic and lemon.
Add in the chickpeas. One can, rinsed in warm water and drained.
Puree for 3-4 minutes, or until smooth. Yep, put that food processor to work! Just keep it going and going until the hummus is nice and smooth, pausing once or twice to scrape the sides down. If the hummus seems too thick, feel free to add in an extra tablespoon or two of water too.
Taste and season. Give the hummus a taste, and add in extra salt, cumin and/or lemon juice if needed.
Garnish and serve. Transfer it to a serving bowl, add on any toppings that you would like, and enjoy!!
Hummus Recipe Variations
The sky’s the limit if you’d like to get creative and mix things up with your hummus! Some of my favorite variations include:
roasted red pepper hummus: a classic, and even better with some crushed red pepper flakes sprinkled in too
pesto hummus: store-bought or homemade, plus maybe an extra garnish of toasted pine nuts
roasted garlic hummus: nix the fresh garlic in favor of a few cloves of rich, sweet, roasted garlic
Ways To Use Hummus
Of course, you can always use hummus as a dip. But it’s also delicious used in:
toast: I’ve been on a major hummus toast kick this year (more on that coming soon!)
burgers/sandwiches: just use the hummus as a spread for extra flavor
wraps: similarly, hummus makes a great spread in wraps or gyros
salads: mix in some extra lemon juice, water and oil, and hummus can double as a delicious salad dressing
mixed into pasta: similarly, just thin the hummus out with some water, and it can be used as a sauce for hot noodles or cold pasta salads
as a “crust” for chicken: this old hummus-crusted chicken recipe is still one of my faves
deviled eggs: the flavors in hummus pair perfectly with deviled eggs!
This homemade hummus recipe is quick and easy to make, super-smooth and creamy, and tastes so fresh and flavorful!
Ingredients
Scale
1/3 cup good-quality tahini
2–4 tablespoons cold water, or more if needed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
juice of 1 lemon (2–3 tablespoons)
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas*, rinsed and drained
optional toppings: extra drizzle of olive oil, chopped fresh parsley, sprinkle of ground sumac or paprika, toasted pine nuts
Instructions
Add tahini, cold water, olive oil, cumin, salt, garlic and lemon juice to a food processor. Puree until smooth.
Add in the chickpeas. Puree for 3-4 minutes, pausing halfway to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until the hummus is smooth. If it seems too thick, add in another tablespoon or two of water.
Taste and season with additional salt, cumin, and/or lemon juice if needed.
Serve immediately, garnished with your desired toppings. Or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Notes
Or, as mentioned above, feel free to instead use:
Chickpeas that have been cooked from scratch: Either in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop. I recommend overcooking them a bit to slightly soften the chickpeas and loosen up the skins.
Canned chickpeas that have been simmered for 20 minutes: If you have the extra time, just rinse and drain your chickpeas. Transfer them to a saucepan and cover with an extra inch or two of water. Then bring to a simmer, continue simmering for 20 minutes, and drain.
These two methods may yield slightly smoother hummus. But in my experience, the difference was negligible and arguably not worth the extra time and effort.
I have made hummus 100’s of times using one of my many recipes from my multiple cookbooks. This is the best by far! There is only a slight difference in ingredients & amounts, but it is THE right combination!
This was absolutely delicious and I come from an area that has many Turks and Arabs meaning I have had a fair share of gpod hummus. I think this tops it though. This recipe is extremely similar to a recipe I received from a woman of Lebanese decent who said her husband (Israeli) makes the absolute best hummus (with the exception of the cumin). She recommended saving a little juice from the can to slightly warm with the chickpeas and mentioned the KEY to smooth hummus. Goya chickpeas! Go figure, they stumbled upon this difference by accident.
Thanks for sharing a recipe we will be using from here on out!
Great recipe! I simmered the canned chickpeas for 20 minutes, and the tough skins came right off in the colander when I drained and rinsed them, so highly recommend this method. I also processed them for 3-4 minutes as the recipe calls for. Smoothest hummus ever!
Hummus is my go-to quick impressive dish when friends are stopping by…and they’re always like “OMG, is this hummus?!” Uh, yeah, it takes like 2 minutes to make and costs about $2, max. It’s sooooo delicious and sooooo easy! Please don’t ever buy it in a store again. And depending on the time of year or what the main course is going to be, I just run outside to our herb garden and throw in whatever herb I’m in the mood for that day! :)
Without a doubt the best hummus I have ever tasted. Mix it up in 15 min and you have a great snack or party dish. I usually add more lemon juice and some lemon zest. Don’t tell my wife I added some smoked paprika to the last batch and she called it the best ever.
This was super yummy and it really turned out creamy and fluffy. I followed the recipe but added some extras i.e. a little ground coriander, a dash or two of cayenne, about a tablespoon of fresh parsley, and some black ground pepper. I also had to adjust it with extra water and olive oil. It is excellent recipe that will replace my old recipe for hummus because it’s easier and better!
Delicious… I cooked chicken peas from scratch and it made so much… I looked up him recipes and this popped up… I love it… it’s so tasty and I love the fact that I can adjust the salt to my liking( I use very little) I added sumac and fresh parsley…
Delicious! Thank you for doing all the work testing methods and common sense appraisal regarding potential payoff. Wonderful as is…and I almost always tweak recipes!
This is TRULY the best hummus. I made a recipe last night from a can which seemed like it would yield good results. NOPE. It was inferior compared to your recipe.
I can taste the effort you put into curating a recipe for everyone to do in the comfort of their home.
I used to be scared of buying a whole jar of tahini because I thought I wouldn’t use it much. Now I’m going to have to grab another jar. Also more cans of garbanzo beans.
THANK YOU FOR THIS MAGICAL RECIPE. <3
Hi ali
In your recipe you what is hummus the best answer would be hummus is Arabic for chickpeas.The official name is hummusحمص bi tahini chicpeas and tahini.The
Origin of the dish is arabic.thank you
This was amazing!!! Thank you!
Is it normal for homemade hummus to stiffen up more in the fridge than storebought hummus does? It was so creamy right after I made it, but became stiffer once chilled.
I have made this receipe several times. Perfect every time. Added red pepper today, making it nice and spicey. The tips in this receipe keep me coming back and it is Easy!
I ground 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sesame seeds with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder to make a paste.. I then put in a a drained 15 ox can of chickpeas and processed for 4 minutes. Used reserved chick pea liquid to thin it out. Creamy and smooth.
About $1.62 for approximately 1 1/4 pounds. Better than $4.89 for 10 oz of Sabra Hummus at Publix.
Tried making hummus at home so many times before, but never has it tastes This Awesome! My husband literally licked the bowl off of every last bit of hummus. It’s just the right combination of ingredients, I had to add more water and olive oil but otherwise it came together really really well. So glad I found this recipe.
This is the first time our family made hummus from scratch. Very very easy, tasty.
If you have more great recipes please send a link and we will give them a try.
Thank You.
delicious! i use chickpeas straight (but rinsed) outta the can. blending the ingredients BEFORE adding the chickpeas and then blending for 4 mins is a brilliant technique. so smooth, creamy & yummy.
I have been trying to make decent hummus forever. This recipe was spectacular. I just used roasted garlic instead of raw. Thank you for saving me from spending a fortune on inferior packaged brands!
Just made this. Incredibly delicious!!!
Thank you so much this recipe is a keeper. Hummus sandwiches on whole wheat bread with cucumber and mixed leaves for lunch every day.
SO easy and delicious! I was between this and another recipe that called for using the Instant Pot. I am very glad I chose this one because I don’t think hummus gets much better than this period, must less if it includes more time, effort and dishes. Prefect balance of flavors as written. Will definitely make again.
From your recipe, I finally found the ingredient that’s been missing in my hummus. It’s the cumin. Thank you for that. I don’t rinse the hummus, I drain it and use the liquid to thin the hummus. Thanks for your recipe!
Jeanne Harriche —
Perfect recipe measurements, thanks for sharing. I made my hummus for the first time using this recipe. I cooked dry beans and took the skins. I wish there were nutrition information available.
Healthy and Delicious
I have made hummus 100’s of times using one of my many recipes from my multiple cookbooks. This is the best by far! There is only a slight difference in ingredients & amounts, but it is THE right combination!
YYYUUUMMMM!
This was absolutely delicious and I come from an area that has many Turks and Arabs meaning I have had a fair share of gpod hummus. I think this tops it though. This recipe is extremely similar to a recipe I received from a woman of Lebanese decent who said her husband (Israeli) makes the absolute best hummus (with the exception of the cumin). She recommended saving a little juice from the can to slightly warm with the chickpeas and mentioned the KEY to smooth hummus. Goya chickpeas! Go figure, they stumbled upon this difference by accident.
Thanks for sharing a recipe we will be using from here on out!
This was delicious, I used canned chickpeas and made exactly as directed. Served with falafel, salad, pita bread, Israeli pickles.
Great recipe! I simmered the canned chickpeas for 20 minutes, and the tough skins came right off in the colander when I drained and rinsed them, so highly recommend this method. I also processed them for 3-4 minutes as the recipe calls for. Smoothest hummus ever!
Hummus is my go-to quick impressive dish when friends are stopping by…and they’re always like “OMG, is this hummus?!” Uh, yeah, it takes like 2 minutes to make and costs about $2, max. It’s sooooo delicious and sooooo easy! Please don’t ever buy it in a store again. And depending on the time of year or what the main course is going to be, I just run outside to our herb garden and throw in whatever herb I’m in the mood for that day! :)
Best I’ve made! So easy!
Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?
So delicious! My husband and several friends all say this is the best hummus they have ever eaten.
This is a great dish for warmer days and perfect pairing for summer tomatoes and cucumbers!
I made a triple batch for a three day horse competition so I can share and everyone has wanted seconds. I should have made more.
Excellent! Needed more water but that was expected. No need to look any further for a hummus recipe!
My go to hummus recipe. It is the best ever!
I just made this. It’s AMAZING! Thank You and Cheers!!! :)
This was the easiest hummus I have ever made. Thank you. I love all of your recipes.
Without a doubt the best hummus I have ever tasted. Mix it up in 15 min and you have a great snack or party dish. I usually add more lemon juice and some lemon zest. Don’t tell my wife I added some smoked paprika to the last batch and she called it the best ever.
This was super yummy and it really turned out creamy and fluffy. I followed the recipe but added some extras i.e. a little ground coriander, a dash or two of cayenne, about a tablespoon of fresh parsley, and some black ground pepper. I also had to adjust it with extra water and olive oil. It is excellent recipe that will replace my old recipe for hummus because it’s easier and better!
Delicious. Finally found my favorite hummus recipe?
This hummus is so good. Really tasty on toasted rye bread!
This is my new go to for the most delicious hummus ever. Thank you for posting. Everyone in my family loves it.
Tried this last night and it is perfect! Doesn’t need tweaking at all. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Delicious easy recipe
Thanks for all of your efforts, Ali! Do you think there would be a problem with using my Vita-Mix instead of a food processor?
Delicious… I cooked chicken peas from scratch and it made so much… I looked up him recipes and this popped up… I love it… it’s so tasty and I love the fact that I can adjust the salt to my liking( I use very little) I added sumac and fresh parsley…
Delicious! Thank you for doing all the work testing methods and common sense appraisal regarding potential payoff. Wonderful as is…and I almost always tweak recipes!
I cook everything from scratch and love your recipes!
Its easy to make smoother hummus.. just run it longer in the food processor and add a bit of extra water.
I made this chick pea hummus. Followed recipe exactly. Came out delicious.
This is TRULY the best hummus. I made a recipe last night from a can which seemed like it would yield good results. NOPE. It was inferior compared to your recipe.
I can taste the effort you put into curating a recipe for everyone to do in the comfort of their home.
I used to be scared of buying a whole jar of tahini because I thought I wouldn’t use it much. Now I’m going to have to grab another jar. Also more cans of garbanzo beans.
THANK YOU FOR THIS MAGICAL RECIPE. <3
Very good and simple but a tad too salty. I would limit the salt to 1 teaspoon.
How much chickpeas did you put?
So easy and delicious! My 10 year old and I just made it. We love it, thank you!
Hi ali
In your recipe you what is hummus the best answer would be hummus is Arabic for chickpeas.The official name is hummusحمص bi tahini chicpeas and tahini.The
Origin of the dish is arabic.thank you
My 1st time making Hummus, it’s awesome!!
This was amazing!!! Thank you!
Is it normal for homemade hummus to stiffen up more in the fridge than storebought hummus does? It was so creamy right after I made it, but became stiffer once chilled.
I have made this receipe several times. Perfect every time. Added red pepper today, making it nice and spicey. The tips in this receipe keep me coming back and it is Easy!
I ground 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sesame seeds with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder to make a paste.. I then put in a a drained 15 ox can of chickpeas and processed for 4 minutes. Used reserved chick pea liquid to thin it out. Creamy and smooth.
About $1.62 for approximately 1 1/4 pounds. Better than $4.89 for 10 oz of Sabra Hummus at Publix.
Tried making hummus at home so many times before, but never has it tastes This Awesome! My husband literally licked the bowl off of every last bit of hummus. It’s just the right combination of ingredients, I had to add more water and olive oil but otherwise it came together really really well. So glad I found this recipe.
WOW! The best hummus I have ever made and I could only find average quality tahini. SO DELICIOUS!!!!
This is the first time our family made hummus from scratch. Very very easy, tasty.
If you have more great recipes please send a link and we will give them a try.
Thank You.
So easy and yummy!
delicious! i use chickpeas straight (but rinsed) outta the can. blending the ingredients BEFORE adding the chickpeas and then blending for 4 mins is a brilliant technique. so smooth, creamy & yummy.
thanks ali! ?
I have been trying to make decent hummus forever. This recipe was spectacular. I just used roasted garlic instead of raw. Thank you for saving me from spending a fortune on inferior packaged brands!
Love this recipe!
Just made this. Incredibly delicious!!!
Thank you so much this recipe is a keeper. Hummus sandwiches on whole wheat bread with cucumber and mixed leaves for lunch every day.
This hummus is perfection! We loved it, thank you!!
Great recipies.I will use them.Thank you all.TLB
SO easy and delicious! I was between this and another recipe that called for using the Instant Pot. I am very glad I chose this one because I don’t think hummus gets much better than this period, must less if it includes more time, effort and dishes. Prefect balance of flavors as written. Will definitely make again.
I added one baked red pepper; it was delicious!
This is my new favorite hummus recipe! Wow! The texture is exactly the mix I’ve been looking for. Thank you
Best creamy hummus ever!
From your recipe, I finally found the ingredient that’s been missing in my hummus. It’s the cumin. Thank you for that. I don’t rinse the hummus, I drain it and use the liquid to thin the hummus. Thanks for your recipe!
Perfect recipe measurements, thanks for sharing. I made my hummus for the first time using this recipe. I cooked dry beans and took the skins. I wish there were nutrition information available.
The best hummus recipe ever!
Stellar!!