Classic hummus is made with chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans). I have a few hummus recipes that use an alternative to chickpeas: hummus using soaked cashews or white beans and the cauliflower hummus recipe in Cooking for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
The trick to getting classic hummus light and creamy is to boil the chickpeas in baking soda and water for a few minutes. I usually use a can of chickpeas but if you have the time and patience, soaking dried chickpeas overnight for 12 to 24 hours is the best. After soaking, cook them in a stockpot with water and baking soda for about 10 minutes or until they're tender.
I go all in by roasting a batch of chickpeas to layer on top of the hummus (recipe below). They remind me of small fried potatoes and they're great on their own as a snack. The chickpeas get crispy after boiling them in water and baking soda and then roasting them in olive oil.
Spread the hummus out on a large plate or bowl, top with herbs, seeds, spices, and olive oil, and serve with grain-free pita, crackers, bagels, fresh or roasted veggies. Enjoy!
Light & Creamy Hummus
Equipment
- Food processor or high speed blender
Ingredients
- ¼ cup water
- 15 ounces chickpeas
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup lemon juice about two lemons
- 1 garlic clove peeled and chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons cold water or more as needed
Instructions
- Add the chickpeas, water, and baking soda to a saucepan and bring the mixture to a steady low boil. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the chickpeas are very soft and the skins are coming off.
- Add the garlic, lemon juice, and salt to the food processor (or high speed blender) and process until well blended. Let sit for a few minutes to let the garlic settle in the mixture.
- Add the tahini to the garlic mixture and blend until thick and creamy.
- While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle the cold water into the creamy mixture. Adjust with more cold water as needed. It should turn fluffier and lighter in color.
- Drain the chickpeas and add them to the food processor along with the cumin. Remove any loose skin. Blend or process the hummus until smooth.
- Season with more salt and lemon juice to taste, process, and then use a spatula to transfer to hummus to a serving bowl.
- Top the hummus with all or some of these: toasted chickpeas (recipe below), olive oil, paprika, smoked paprika, Zatar, everything bagel seasoning, chopped mint, parsley, and other herbs.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for a week or so.
Nutrition
Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 15 ounces chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425℉.
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas in water.
- Spread the chickpeas out on a paper or cloth towel to pat dry.
- Spread the chickpeas across the baking sheet and drizzle the olive oil over them. Roll the chickpeas around to coat them with olive oil.
- Sprinkle salt and paprika over the chickpeas and bake for 20 minutes, or until they become golden.
- Store in a sealed container for a week, or in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
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