How to Make Hummus: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Blend
Hailed as the ‘king of dips,’ hummus is one of the most popular Middle Eastern dishes known worldwide. It’s healthy, creamy, and incredibly delicious, thus making it a perfect and nutritious snack or dip. In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to making classic hummus as well as suggest innovative recipes to experiment with for your taste buds.
Step-by-Step Recipe to make Classic Hummus
To make the perfect hummus, you must have the right ingredients and a food processor. Here are the ingredients that you will need.
- 1 cup dried chickpeas or 2 cans of chickpeas
- 1/4 cup tahini paste
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves crushed garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt to taste
- Water
To prepare the classic hummus, you need to first soften the dried chickpeas by soaking them overnight. If you’re using canned chickpeas, you can skip this step.
1. In a pot, add the chickpeas along with enough water to cover them. Bring them to a boil, then let them simmer for an hour or until the chickpeas are tender. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface of the water while cooking.
2. Once tender, let the chickpeas cool down. If the skin peels off effortlessly, remove the skin from the chickpeas. While it’s not necessary to remove the skin, peeling the skin off gives you creamier hummus.
3. Next, add the chickpeas to a food processor and process until they’re thoroughly ground. Scrape down the sides of the food processor to ensure that the chickpeas are blended evenly.
4. Add the tahini paste, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, cumin, and salt to the ground chickpeas in the bowl of the food processor. Add 1/4 cup of water, then puree until smooth. Check the hummus to see if it’s the consistency you desire. If not, add a tablespoon or two of water and pulse until you get your desired consistency.
5. If the hummus is too thick, add more water, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning accordingly.
One-Pot Hummus Dish
Here’s an easy one-pot recipe to make hummus. Instead of boiling the chickpeas separately, cook them, along with the tahini paste, in the same pot.
1. In a pot, add the chickpeas, tahini paste, and a cup of water. Cook for 30-40 minutes or until the chickpeas are cooked. The water may have evaporated, but it’s okay as we’ll add olive oil for creaminess and consistency.
2. Add the cooked chickpeas with tahini paste to a food processor, along with fresh lemon juice, garlic cloves, olive oil, and salt. Puree it until smooth. If the hummus appears too thick, add more olive oil, a tablespoon at a time.
3. Finally, add spices to taste for a delicious, unique twist. Some suggestions include smoked paprika, cumin, harissa, or sumac.
Hummus with a Twist
No longer is hummus limited to chickpeas and tahini paste. Here are some new and innovative recipes that don’t compromise the classic flavor.
Beetroot Hummus: Give your hummus a vibrant color by adding beetroot! Puree boiled beetroot with classic hummus ingredients for a beautiful pinkish-red dip. Add toppings like pumpkin seeds or feta cheese to make it even more delicious.
Avocado Hummus: Avocado in hummus gives a creamier consistency and a more delicate flavor, making this dip perfect for summer. Mash ripe avocados with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil until smooth and enjoy.
Jalapeno Hummus: For those who love spice, squeeze in some jalapeno peppers! Roast a few jalapeno peppers and blend them with classic hummus ingredients for a spicy twist.
The Science of a Perfect Hummus
A perfect hummus is creamy, light, and smooth. Here’s a little know-how about the science behind hummus:
1. Soak chickpeas overnight to soften them. It improves the texture as well as improves their digestibility.
2. Once you’ve blended the chickpeas and tahini with a food processor, let the mixture rest for 10-15 minutes to let the natural oils in the tahini to emulsify. This gives hummus its signature creaminess.
3. Adding baking soda to the chickpeas while boiling makes the skins softer, making it much easier to remove the peel.
Hummus as a Dip
Hummus is the perfect appetizer and healthy snack. Serve it with celery sticks, pita bread, carrot sticks, or cucumber slices. It’s versatile, and the topping choices are endless.
Parmesan Hummus: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top of hummus for an exciting variation.
Olive Tapenade Hummus: Add olive tapenade on top of hummus for a quick twist that is guaranteed to be a hit.
Roasted Pepper Hummus: A colorful and flavorful take on hummus, top hummus with roasted red peppers.
Hummus for Special Occasions
Hummus platters are a popular appetizer for a party or family gatherings. Jazz up your presentation by adding various toppings.
1. Mediterranean platter – Pistachios, chopped parsley, roasted red peppers, and olives pair well with hummus.
2. Mexican platter – Top hummus with jalapenos, black beans, and chopped cilantro. You can also add cubes of feta or queso fresco cheese.
3. Flatbread platter – Instead of chips, serve hummus with naan or pita bread slices.
Wine Pairing: Red wines like a good Merlot pair well with hummus as their creamy texture contrasts with the crisp acidity of the wine.
Conclusion
Hummus is easy to make, healthy, and versatile. With these step-by-step instructions, your homemade hummus will rival any takeout. Experiment with fun topping combinations and taste how different ingredients transform the flavor.
