Have you tried hummus before? This chickpea tahini dip has gained widespread popularity and is available in most grocery stores. Learning how to make homemade creamy hummus is easy if you know some tricks. After tasting this recipe you will never buy store bought hummus again!

What is Hummus?

Hummus is a Middle Eastern chickpea and tahini dip. It is commonly eaten at brunch with pita bread or as an appetizer with grilled meat or chicken. Hummus can also be enjoyed as a snack with pita chips, crackers, vegetables or spread on a sandwich.

One of the main ingredients in hummus is tahini, which is basically a sesame seed paste. It can be found in most grocery stores or Middle Eastern stores.

Hummus Nutrition

If you’re looking to include more plant based meals and protein to your diet, then hummus is a great option. The main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, which provide a balance of complex carbohydrates and protein. Did you know that one cup of cooked chickpeas has 14 grams of protein? Complex carbohydrates provide a slow release of energy so that your blood sugars don’t spike and you feel full. Chickpeas contain several important vitamins and minerals including folate and manganese.

Tahini is essential to making hummus. Tahini contains healthy fats from the sesame seeds. Although it is high in fat, it contains unsaturated healthy fats which can help lower your risk for heart disease if replaced with saturated fats. Tahini has some protein as well, with one tablespoon providing 2.5 grams of protein.

Humus Secrets Revealed: Tips to Creating Extra Creamy and Smooth Hummus

Hummus is easy to make but there are a few secrets to creating creamy smooth hummus. I’ll be honest I used to make hummus but it would always have a grainy texture and was never quite smooth. I was determined to know the secrets behind making smooth hummus. I decided to ask a restaurant owner in my extended family and implemented a few tricks from this Syrian Chef on Youtube.  The result is a creamy, extra smooth hummus you’ll fall in love with. Now I’m sharing these tips with you!

Use Soft Cooked Chickpeas

One of the secrets to making smooth hummus is to use soft cooked chickpeas. Here are the steps to preparing the chickpeas:

• Fill a pot with water and add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Add the chickpeas and soak for a few hours or overnight. The chickpeas will expand and double in size.
• Rinse the chickpeas under running water. Fill the pot with fresh water and add the chickpeas, then bring to a boil and cook for 1.5 hours or until chickpeas are well cooked and tender.
• Leave the chickpeas to cool, then place the chickpeas in water in the fridge for a few hours. This will also help to soften the chickpeas further. Now they are ready to be used in the recipe.

Use Ice

Another secret is to crush ice with chickpeas, which will help to create the smooth hummus consistency.

Use lots of Tahini

Tahini is essential to making traditional hummus. Using a generous portion of good quality hummus will result in ultra-smooth hummus.

Blend the mixture well

It’s important that you are using a high power blender or food processor and to blend the mixture well to create a creamy hummus texture.

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Extra Smooth and Creamy Authentic Middle Eastern Homemade Hummus (Chickpea Tahini Dip)

This recipe has all the secrets to creating extra smooth and creamy authentic homemade hummus!

Course Appetizer, lunch

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword chickpeas

Prep Time 15 minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 4 cups chickpeas cooked very well and cooled
• 1/2 cup lemon juice around juice of 2 lemons
• 1 tsp salt
• 7-8 ice cubes
• 1.5 cups tahini
• 1/4 cup cold water optional
• olive oil
• pine nuts optional
• pita bread

Instructions

1. In a high power blender, add 7-8 ice cubes and pulse until crushed.

2. Add the chickpeas, lemon juice and salt to the blender. Mix together for 30 seconds until chickpeas are combined together (it will look chunky).

3. Add the tahini, then blend mixture for 1-2 minutes.

4. If you notice the mix is too thick, add a 1/4 cup of cold water slowly and continue to blend for 2 more minutes until mix is smooth. Note: you may need to stop and scrape the sides of the blender to ensure mixture is well blended. Also, using the tamper tool (black stick) with your blender will help ensure contents mix smoothly.

5. Once blended, scoop the hummus onto a plate. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and roasted pine nuts, then dip with pita bread to enjoy. 

Recipe Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week.