Hummus is one of our favorite dips, made even better by how simple it is to make. Made by mixing chickpeas, tahini and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, it’s the easiest appetizer or satisfying last-minute snack to throw together. After several rounds of testing, we found our favorite hack for making a creamy and smooth hummus with a rich and nutty sesame flavor from scratch – no chickpea soaking required! Read on for our favorite way to make this basic dip:
The secret to making the best homemade hummus:
To ensure an extra smooth hummus, most recipes call for dried chickpeas that have been soaked and then cooked for a very long time. Using dried chickpeas like we do in our Roasted Garlic Hummus recipe is by no means difficult, but it does add a lot of time and thought. We wanted a hummus that could be made faster from canned chickpeas, but was still just as creamy.
Enter: canned chickpeas, with a twist. Canned beans are usually slightly undercooked with a firm texture, which will leave your hummus with just a bit of unwanted texture. Our solution? A quick boil of canned chickpeas with some baking soda to break them down further allows us to have the silky smooth hummus we want in just 30 minutes.
Hummus ingredients:
With so few ingredients, it’s helpful to prioritize quality here to make your hummus taste its best. This is the time to break out that lovely bottle of good, rich tasting olive oil you’ve been saving for a rainy day. Same with your tahini – not all are created equal. Look for one with sesame seeds as the only ingredient, and be sure to give it a good stir to break up any separation before incorporating it into the recipe.
What should I serve with hummus?
Classic dippers for hummus include vegetables like carrots, celery and bell peppers, but pita chips or freshly baked pita are also great with hummus. Serve it with your falafel too!
What can I top my hummus with?
Although it requires no topping and is delicious served plain, adding something extra can really make your hummus stand out. We like a simple drizzle of olive oil and sprinkles of paprika, Aleppo-style pepper or sumac, but crispy chickpeas, roasted red peppers, olive tapenade or herbs and pine nuts are other fun additions.
Tried this hummus hack? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
