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Home » Vegan Lebanese Recipes

Lebanese Hummus (Is Hummus Vegan?)

Published: Feb 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 the emphasis on the second syllable.

Is Hummus Vegan?

Yes, traditional hummus made at home is vegan, as it contains only plant-based ingredients, chickpeas, fresh lemon juice, tahini (sesame seed paste), and garlic. Sometimes water too.

However, store-bought hummus can sometimes contain non-vegan ingredients, so it's important to read the labels, checking for ingredients and logos to help identify any vegan certification.

Ingredients to Look Out For

When buying store-bought hummus, be sure to check the ingredients list for foods like

Dairy some brands may include milk or milk containing foods.

Preservatives and additives some of these are not derived from plants

Natural flavors again may not be plant derived, they can include animal-related foods.

Sugar is from a plant source, however, some processing methods of sugar may use bone char (animal bones) to make it white.

In addition to this, vegan-friendly ingredients may still have trace amounts of animal products from the manufacturing process or equipment.

This is when checking the labeling for vegan certification, generally made obvious through a logo, is beneficial.

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.

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.

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 wrap for a healthy and 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.

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.

Did you enjoy making this vegan recipe? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below and give me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk. 

Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories.

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

Easy Creamy Lebanese Hummus

Hummus 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
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 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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Reader Interactions

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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

Primary Sidebar

A female brunette dressed in black and an apron juggling lemons

Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

Let's cook together!

More about me →

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