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Classic hummus from scratch in a bowl with olive oil and paprika

Classic Homemade Hummus

A smooth, authentic Levantine-style homemade hummus made with chickpeas, tahini, fresh lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. It includes both canned and dried chickpea options with honest preparation times.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cans 15 oz each of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (or equivalent cooked dried chickpeas)
  • ½ cup tahini
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2-4 tablespoons ice water
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for serving
  • 1 teaspoon sumac optional, for garnish; 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin optional
  • Paprika for garnish
  • Chopped parsley for garnish
  • Whole chickpeas for garnish

Method
 

  1. Prepare chickpeas (simmer canned chickpeas 8-10 minutes or soak and cook dried chickpeas as described above).
  2. Blend tahini and lemon juice until pale and creamy, about 1 minute.
  3. Add garlic and salt; pulse briefly to combine.
  4. Add chickpeas gradually and blend in batches.
  5. Blend in ice water, a tablespoon at a time, until smooth.
  6. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  7. Spoon hummus into a serving bowl.
  8. Create a shallow well in the center with the back of a spoon.
  9. Finish with olive oil, paprika, parsley and whole chickpeas.
  10. Serve immediately; refrigerate in an airtight container

Notes

  • Total time for the dried chickpea version includes overnight soaking.
  • Peeling chickpeas is optional; also cooking them until very soft matters more for texture.
  • Choose a fresh, pourable tahini rather than an old or separated one.
  • Freezes well for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
  • Sunflower seed butter can replace tahini, but the flavor will change noticeably.
  • Best served at room temperature or slightly warm.
  • Can be made up to 2 days ahead and refreshed with a little lemon juice and water before serving.
Nutrition Estimate (per serving):
 Calories: ~180 | Protein: ~6 g | Fat: ~11 g | Carbohydrates: ~16 g | Fiber: ~5 g | Sugar: ~2 g | Sodium: Varies by chickpeas and added salt (estimate only)