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    Home » Vegan Lebanese Recipes

    Easy Lebanese Hummus

    Published: Feb 15, 2023 · Modified: May 15, 2023 by Janelle Hama

    Jump to Recipe

    Hummus, a smooth and creamy dip made from chickpeas, lemon, tahini and garlic. This is my family's Lebanese hummus recipe.

    a brown clay bowl filled with blended chickpeas topped with whole cooked chickpeas

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    Jump to:
    • What is Hummus?
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How to Make Lebanese Hummus
    • Serving Suggestions
    • ❓FAQ
    • Related Recipes
    • Easy Creamy Lebanese Hummus

    What is Hummus?

    The word "hummus" is Arabic for "chickpea", الحمص

    Hummus, also spelled houmous, hommos, or hummous, is a creamy dip or spread made from mashed chickpeas, fresh lemon juice, tahini (sesame seed paste), and garlic. 

    It's a centuries-old staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.

    It is believed to have originated in the Middle East and has a rich cultural history in the region.

    Traditionally hummus was made by hand, using a pestle and mortar, where the chickpeas were crushed into a smooth paste.

    Nowadays, it is made using a food processor, however, some specialist food vendors across the Middle East may still make it by hand.

    How to Pronounce Hummus

    In Arabic, hummus is pronounced "hoo·mus", with a soft "h" sound, and an emphasis on the second syllable.

    a female hand holding a piece of cucumber with creamy off white dip on it

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Nothing tops homemade fresh hummus, you have complete control over the ingredients resulting in the ultimate creaminess
    • Easy to make with a few simple ingredients and a food processor
    • It’s versatile, enjoy it as a dip or spread. It's perfect for snacks, and parties, and is always served as part of a mezze.
    • Hummus is packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats, making it a great choice for a vegan diet.
    • Accommodates special diets: This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free and oil-free.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    salt, tahini, chickpeas, water, lemon and a clove of garlic laid out in bowls

    Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

    Chickpeas are the main ingredient in hummus. They will need to be cooked until tender prior to using in this recipe.

    Dry chickpeas are usually my preference as they are cost-effective and contain no additives, however, this method can be time-consuming if you don’t own a pressure cooker.

    So for this recipe, we will be using organics canned chickpeas.

    Canned chickpeas, are the easier option. Rinse prior to using.

    Keep the chickpea juice as there are so many uses check out these aquafaba recipes.

    Freshly squeezed lemon juice. Adds a bright, tangy flavor and helps to balance out the richness of the tahini.

    I highly recommend avoiding store-bought lemon juice, which normally has added ingredients.

    Salt will Bring out the flavors of the other ingredients and helps to enhance the taste of the hummus.

    Tahini is a sesame seed paste that adds a rich, nutty flavor, this is a key flavoring and shouldn't be left out.

    It can be found at most local supermarkets, Middle Eastern / Mediterranean grocers, or purchased online here (affiliate link).

    Garlic (optional) will add a pungent, savoriness to the hummus, but can be omitted if you are not a fan of it. Always use fresh garlic.

    Did you know?

    That baba ganoush uses similar ingredients to hummus. Find out the difference between baba ganoush vs hummus. Which dip do you prefer?

    How to Make Lebanese Hummus

    Step one - Begin by draining and rinsing the chickpeas and then adding them to a pot, cover with water.

    Bring them to a boil on high heat, then turn down to low-medium and cook them until the skins have started to fall off.

    chickpeas in water in a black pot
    boiled chickpeas with a white slotted spoon in a black pot

    Step two - In a food processor (affiliate link), add the tender chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, garlic and salt.

    Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the salt, lemon and tahini if necessary.

    chickpeas, lemon juice, salt, garlic in a food processor jug
    blended chickpeas dip in a food processor jug

    Step three - Transfer the hummus to a serving dish, and drizzle it with (optional) extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with sumac, paprika or cumin.

    Serving Suggestions

    Did you know you can serve hummus warm?

    It is common in Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern / Mediterranean countries, to make freshly crushed hummus using hot-cooked tender chickpeas, which are then served immediately. This is the traditional way of serving.

    If serving hummus for breakfast, you can always find it paired with foul moudamas.

    However, there are other ways to enjoy cold Lebanese hummus:

    As a dip for pita bread (fresh, baked or fried - try this gluten free pita bread), carrots, cucumbers, or crackers. Top it with a famous Middle Eastern hot sauce called shatta.

    Spread it on a salad sandwich or in my mouthwatering falafel pita sandwich filled with authentic Lebanese falafel for a delicious lunch.

    As a topping for baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, or buddha bowls.

    Enjoy it with vegan shawarma made from marinated mushrooms

    Have it as a side with tangy Lebanese tofu skewers based on shish tawook.

    a brown ceramic bowl filled with creamed chickpeas and garnished with red spices

    ❓FAQ

    Is original hummus vegan?

    Yes, traditional hummus made with chickpeas, lemon juice, salt, tahini, and garlic is vegan. However, some store-bought varieties may contain non-vegan ingredients, such as dairy, so always check the labels or make your own at home. You can get the full answer for is hummus vegan here.

    Why is my hummus not smooth?

    If your hummus is not smooth, it could be because the chickpeas were not fully cooked, or because the ingredients were not processed long enough. To fix this, you can add more ice water to the food processor, or process the ingredients for longer.

    Can I make hummus without a food processor?

    Yes, traditionally hummus was made without a food processor. Tender cooked chickpeas were crushed using a mortar and pestle. It is easier to start by crushing the garlic and salt together, then adding the lemon juice and chickpeas. Once these have been blended, proceed to add the tahini and blend these together in the mortar and pestle until a creamy consistency has been achieved.

    lemon juice, salt and crushed garlic in a black bowl
    Crushed garlic, salt and lemon juice
    a pestle and mortar with crushed chickpea dip
    Hummus made without a food processor

    Related Recipes

    Looking for more vegan dips? Try my delicious baba ghanouj, a Lebanese eggplant dip, or this easy vegan bean dip.

    For a unique-ish dip, try my tangy zucchini insides dip.

    Or for a garlic kick, try my Lebanese toum garlic dipping sauce.

    Otherwise, if you're keen on vegan Arabic foods, check out this list of vegan Middle Eastern recipes.

    Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.

    a brown clay bowl filled with blended chickpeas topped with whole cooked chickpeas

    Easy Creamy Lebanese Hummus

    Hummus, is a smooth and creamy dip made from chickpeas, lemon, tahini, and garlic. This is my family’s Lebanese hummus recipe. Naturally vegan and gluten free.
    Print Pin Rate Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 cups
    Author: Janelle Hama

    Ingredients

    • 1½ cups Chickpeas cooked tender
    • ¼ cup Tahini
    • ¼ cup Lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • ¼ cup Iced chickpea water see note 2.
    • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
    • 1 Clove Garlic crushed
    • 3 cups Water for boiling the chickpeas
    Metric - US Customary
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Drain and rinse the canned chickpeas and then add them to a pot. Cover with water. Bring them to a boil on high heat, then turn down to low-medium and cook them until the skins have started to fall off. See note 1. Reserve half a cup of the chickpea water and place a few ice cubes in it. See note 2.
      1½ cups Chickpeas, 3 cups Water
    • In a food processor, add the drained tender chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, iced chickpea water and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the salt, lemon and tahini if necessary.
      ¼ cup Tahini, ¼ cup Lemon juice, ¼ cup Iced chickpea water, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 Clove Garlic
    • Transfer the hummus to a serving dish, and drizzle it with (optional) extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with sumac or paprika or cumin.

    Video


    Notes

    Note 1 - whilst canned chickpeas are cooked, they are best when they are super tender and the skins are falling apart. This is why they are boiled.
    Note 2 - Keep some of the chickpea water from the pot that they were boiled in. Then place ice in the water, which will help the hummus to blend into a smooth consistency.
     
    You may also like my authentic baba ghanouj, Lebanese eggplant dip.

    Equipment

    1 food processor

    Nutrition

    Serving: 50g | Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 603mg | Potassium: 533mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 5mg

    N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.


    Tried this recipe?Mention @Plantbasedfolk or tag #plantbasedfolk

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Stephen

      March 14, 2023 at 11:20 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for explaining if hummus is vegan. I didn’t realize that some pre-made hummus can include other ingredients. It makes sense

      Reply
    2. Lulu

      February 20, 2023 at 6:45 pm

      Hi do I remove the skins or add them to the processor?

      Reply
      • Janelle Hama

        February 20, 2023 at 7:22 pm

        Hi Lulu,

        It is not required. Just make sure your chickpeas are super tender, so the skins are super tender.

        Enjoy

        Reply

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    Hello, I'm Janelle, a culinary enthusiast with over two decades of cooking experience and a keen interest in creating delicious vegan Lebanese recipes.

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