BEST Hummus
Learn how to make the BEST homemade hummus! This 7-ingredient recipe is creamy and bright - perfect for eating with veggies or pita.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Active time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Equipment
- 1 required
Ingredients and Constraints
Ingredients
Ingredient watchpoints3 watchpoints
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Chickpeas
1½ cups cooked chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: BEST Hummus
Lemon Juice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (plus more to taste)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: BEST Hummus
Pita Bread
Warm pita bread (and/or veggies, for serving)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: BEST Hummus
Additional ingredient notes
Homemade Hummus Ingredients
You only need 7 basic ingredients to make this easy homemade hummus recipe!
Though I cook dried chickpeas on occasion, I typically use store-bought canned chickpeas in my homemade hummus, and it always comes out great. If you cook your chickpeas yourself, make sure to soak them ahead of time, and let them boil for a bit longer than you normally would. You want them to be mushy, soft, and creamy. A generous amount of good-quality tahini is the key to smooth hummus. I use 1/3 cup in my recipe, and I choose a brand with a smooth texture and a mild, nutty flavor that’s not bitter. My favorites are Cedar’s (available at most grocery stores), Seed & Mill (the best ever), and Soom. Extra-virgin olive oil. I blend 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the dip, and I love to serve it with an extra drizzle of oil on top!
Required setup
Equipment
(I've used my trusty Vitamix for years)
Before You Cook
Constraints, controls, and warnings to review before starting.
Decisions before cookingDetails1
Reviewed comparisons and tradeoffs that affect the path before the first active step.
Recipe Variations
If you go to the hummus section of a grocery store, you’ll find tons of ideas for seasoning it!
Feel free to experiment with different flavors at home. I love it the traditional way, but if I’m in the mood for something different, I usually turn to one of these variations: Spice it up. 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin or coriander adds an extra layer of flavor. Replace the raw garlic with 3 roasted garlic cloves. Add roasted red peppers. Blend 1 to 2 roasted red peppers into the base recipe to make red pepper hummus. A pinch of smoked paprika is great in this variation. Add spoonfuls of pesto, to taste, to make an extra-lemony, herbaceous dip. Blend in 1/2 cup fresh parsley, cilantro, or basil, or up to 1 cup spinach.
Method Overview
Structured method notes that are separate from the step timeline.
How to Make Hummus from Scratch
Once you assemble your ingredients, you can make this recipe in one easy step.
Just add the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, water, garlic, and salt to a high-speed blender, and process until smooth. As you blend, add more water, as needed, to reach your desired consistency. If your blender has a baton, you may want to use it to help get things going. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you can use a food processor to make this recipe. However, you’ll likely need to blend the hummus longer, for up to a few minutes. A blender makes a smoother dip faster. You can make super creamy hummus in a food processor too, but it will take a bit more time. Enjoy the hummus right away, or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge.
Method Timeline
Prep
ActivePrep
5 min
Prep time from the source recipe card.
Total
PassiveTotal
5 min
Total time from the source recipe card.
Step 1
In a high-speed blender, place the chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Use the blender baton to blend until very smooth, adding water as needed to blend, and/or to reach your desired consistency.
Image detailsHow to make hummusLove And Lemons · BEST HummusDev reference Visual cue
until very smooth, adding water as needed to blend, and/or to reach your desired consistency.
Checks1
TextureInfoTextureuntil very smooth, adding water as needed to blend, and/or to reach your desired consistency.
Expected state: until very smooth, adding water as needed to blend, and/or to reach your desired consistency.
Inputs and tools7
Uses
- 5 tablespoons water (or as needed to blend)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (plus more to taste)
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup smooth tahini*
- 1½ cups cooked chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: BEST Hummus
Step 2
Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with paprika, red pepper flakes, and/or fresh parsley. Serve with warm pita and veggies, as desired.
Image detailsHummus RecipeLove And Lemons · BEST HummusDev reference Checks1
ServiceMain recipeSource service instruction
Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with paprika, red pepper flakes, and/or fresh parsley. Serve with warm pita and veggies, as desired.
Inputs and tools1
Uses
- Paprika, red pepper flakes, and/or fresh parsley
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: BEST Hummus
Learn More
Extra cooking notes, tests, and source details kept out of the step-by-step method.
Why this works
Quick kitchen reasons behind the main choices.
What to Serve with Hummus
Once you have hummus on hand in the refrigerator, you’ll find a thousand ways to use it.
Here are a few suggestions: Enjoy it with veggies or crackers (or straight off a spoon) as a quick snack. Slather it onto crostini to serve as an appetizer.
Article photos
Photos used with the article notes.
Source: BEST Hummus
Recipe structure
Components and intermediate outputs created by the method.
Main recipe
Recipe card ingredients and steps.
8
Garnish
Source step 2 creates or uses garnish.
Extra useful notes
Short source-backed recommendations and facts that do not need a step.
*Tahini brands I prefer are: Cedar’s, Seed + Mill, and Soom
*Tahini brands I prefer are: Cedar’s, Seed + Mill, and Soom
Did you make the recipe? I want to see!
Did you make the recipe? I want to see!
Tag @loveandlemons on Instagram.
Tag @loveandlemons on Instagram.
rate this recipe (after making it)
rate this recipe (after making it)
rate this recipe (after making it)
rate this recipe (after making it)
Easy and delicious! This is my go to hummus recipe.
Easy and delicious! This is my go to hummus recipe. Haven’t felt a need to try another.
Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
I’m so glad you love the hummus, Julie!
I’m so glad you love the hummus, Julie!
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Source and Origin
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Adapted from source
Imported from the love-and-lemons page for dev review.
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BEST Hummus
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