Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (2024)

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Herb hummus is the perfect hummus recipe!! This addictively good hummus has two "secret ingredients" that take it over the top!

And I don't say that lightly.

I am somewhat of a hummus officionado, having first tried it years ago in a Vegetarian cooking class and found it's earthy and slightly tart taste addictive. I frequently order it as an appetizer. Sometimes it's good and sometimes, well, it would probably work better as wallpaper paste.

So, last week my cousin and I met for lunch - I was eager to try a relatively new restaurant in our area - True Food Kitchen. This "green" restaurant focuses on fresh, local and sustainable food choices and the menu is based upon Dr. Weil's anti - inflammatory diet. Since my cousin has some food allergies I knew that the menu would offer her plenty of dishes to choose from.

We weren't disappointed. In fact, everything on the menu was appealing - as was every dish I saw coming out of the kitchen. Deciding on what to order is definitely a challenge when what you really want is one of one of everything!

Naturally, we started off with the herb hummus.. but this, my friends in no ordinary hummus.

No, It is the best hummus I've ever had.

Period.

Creamy, tart and spicy with just a touch of sweet and salty it hits all your taste receptors with the perfect balance. Paired with warm pita bread I could have happily made a meal just on that.

But of course, I didn't.

Each of us ordered a salad and they were equally delicious - and so it looks like I will be returning to True Food Kitchen soon because I still want "one of everything"!!

Lucky for you (and definitely for me) the recipe for this perfect hummus can be found on Dr. Weil's site and I have included it here as well - you know, just to tide you over until a True Food Kitchen opens in your neighborhood.

Note: I was not paid to write this and although I don't typically do "restaurant reviews" I enjoyed my experience so much (to say nothing of the hummus!!) I just had to share it here at the Table!!

📖Recipe

Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (3)

Herb Hummus – the perfect recipe

Herb hummus is the perfect hummus recipe!! This addictively good hummus has two "secret ingredients" that take it over the top!

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 1722kcal

Author: Nancy Buchanan

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked chickpeas
  • ¼ cup tahini paste
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp. chopped fresh jalapeno
  • ½ bunch cilantro chopped
  • 1 tsp. chopped garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. agave nectar
  • 1 Tbsp. salt
  • Topping:
  • ¼ cup liced kalamata olives optional
  • ¼ cup diced fresh tomatoes optional
  • ¼ red onion peeled and thinly sliced (optional)
  • Pita bread whole wheat crackers and/or vegetables for dipping

Instructions

  • Place the chickpeas, tahini and lemon juice in bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and process until the mixture is smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Garnish with the kalamata olives, tomatoes and red onion if desired

Nutrition

Calories: 1722kcal | Carbohydrates: 126g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 123g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 8113mg | Potassium: 1499mg | Fiber: 34g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Vitamin C: 40.7mg | Calcium: 378mg | Iron: 14.4mg

More Appetizers from Around the World

  • Homemade Crab Rangoon
  • Whipped Ricotta
  • Tarte Flambee
  • Stuffed Spanish Mushrooms

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Medifast Coupons says

    Lovely hummus recipe, look forward to trying your recipe, thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  2. Gaby says

    Hummus is my all time fav! Can't wait to try this one 🙂

    Reply

  3. marla {family fresh cooking} says

    Nancy, I will take your word for it. This hummus does sound amazing and I had no idea that restaurant was based off of Dr. Weil. Must try it out soon.

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Hi Marla!!

      We should get a group together and meet there for lunch - it is so good!!!

      Reply

  4. Priscilla - She's Cookin' says

    True Food Kitchen - say no more! How great that they had the recipe on Andrew Weil's website for you to share with us. Love the ambiance, the food, and the scene at TFK!

    Reply

  5. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says

    I've never heard of that place before, but if I'm ever in the are I'll have to check it out, I'm a big fan of Dr. Weil. Until then I'll be trying out this lovely recipe, thank you.

    Reply

  6. Amanda says

    That restaurant sounds wonderful!! What a neat recipe and site!

    Reply

  7. the urban baker says

    I, too, love hummus. I love that you are posting and giving insight into this very healthy snack!

    Reply

  8. Allison [Haute Box] says

    Hummus is one of my fave dips. Reminds me of childhood.

    Reply

  9. paul jennette says

    Perfect, I love making homemade Hummus! I haven't done so in years, thanks for the inspiration!!

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Hi Paul!!

      This one is definitely worth making - but I warn you, it's addictive!!

      Reply

  10. Lynne @ CookandBeMerry says

    Hi Nancy! It was great seeing you at the FBLA meeting last Saturday. Your salad was so beautiful and tasted delicious. I loved all the red ingredients.

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Hi Lynne,

      So glad that you liked the salad - I'll be posting the recipe soon!!!

      Reply

  11. Ben says

    Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (8)
    That looks delicious and so pretty! I love your blog 🙂

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Hi Ben!!

      I am so glad that you stopped by!! I hope you enjoy the hummus!!

      Reply

  12. Magic of Spice says

    Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (9)
    I love hummus and this sounds like a wonderful place, will have to check it out...

    Reply

  13. Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} says

    Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (10)
    mmm...delicious, I love hummus. Great presentation.

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Thanks Diane!! This hummus is really addictive - I've been having it every day for lunch and I'm still not tired of it!!

      Reply

  14. Kim says

    Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (11)
    Agree that hummus can be hit or miss - this one looks like a hit! Let's get a group to go there for lunch!

    [K]

    P.S. Beautiful colors in your photos!

    Reply

  15. Vicky says

    Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (12)
    I love hummus and this sounds delicious with the addition of all the extra ingredients! Think honey would work in place of agave?

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      Hi Vicky!

      Yes, honey would be a terrific substitution!! Although it seems strange to add something sweet to something that is savory, it really works - I was amazed when I tried it!!

      Reply

  16. julie senchak says

    Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (13)
    By far the BEST humus I've ever eaten/made/devoured!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Herb Hummus - the perfect recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in hummus? ›

Hummus, that creamy dip that hails from the Middle East, has a reputation as a clean, healthy food. It deserves it. All the main ingredients are super foods in their own right. It's got chickpeas, sesame paste (tahini), garlic, and olive oil in most traditional versions.

What to add to hummus to make it better? ›

Next, enhance the blank slate of flavor with a few squeezes of lemon juice, a sprinkling of garlic salt, a turn of freshly cracked pepper, a heavy-handed sprinkle of paprika, and a generous drizzle of your nicest olive oil. Bonus points if you have an herby olive oil on hand with a little color to it.

What is the main ingredient in hummus quiz? ›

Answer Chickpeas

Chickpeas are a key ingredient in making hummus.

Why do you put baking soda in hummus? ›

Baking soda: Adding baking soda to the chickpeas helps make the legume easier to digest, softer, and makes them easy to peel. Don't skip this ingredient! Lemon juice: I never suggest using pre-bottled lemon juice, but I especially urge you not to in homemade hummus.

What to use instead of tahini in hummus? ›

If you feel adventurous, try replacing the tahini with an equal amount of peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, Greek yogurt, chopped roasted peppers, pitted olives, roasted beets, steamed sweet potato, avocado, or thawed frozen peas, to name just a few possibilities.

How long will homemade hummus last? ›

Homemade varieties will generally last anywhere from 3-4 days, whereas store-bought brands generally lasts 6-7 days after opening. These estimates assume that it maintains a refrigerated temperature; as we mentioned already, the shelf life of hummus is diminished greatly if it does not remain chilled.

Why does my homemade hummus taste bland? ›

As I'm sure you're aware, chickpeas don't have a lot of flavour to them, so they need some pretty punchy ingredients to make it what it is. Yes, adding things like cumin or paprika will make it more interesting, but at the end of the day, if there isn't enough salt and lemon (acid), it will taste bland and insipid.

What makes hummus taste good? ›

Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds, which makes hummus taste incredible. You can buy tahini, or you can make it yourself. We use homemade tahini to make hummus that's 100% from scratch (it's easy, I promise).

Why is there lemon juice in hummus? ›

Lemon juice contains high levels of Vitamin C, and is an effective natural preservative due to its citric acid content. It also adds tanginess and a light, fresh flavor to hummus.

What bacteria grows on hummus? ›

Hummus is very nutritious, but has a high water activity that supports the growth of several microorganisms, including spoilage microorganisms like Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli [6]. In addition, it is susceptible to microbial cross-contamination during preparation and post-processing [3].

What foodborne illness is in hummus? ›

From 2002 to 2017, there have been 17 human foodborne illness outbreaks associated with hummus in the U.S., resulting in a combined 1105 illnesses, 64 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths [1]. All four of the deaths reported were due to two outbreaks of listeriosis in 2013.

How do you make bland hummus taste better? ›

Add Some Nice Spice

Spices like paprika, cayenne pepper and sumac all lend a marvelous layer of nuance to a classic hummus dip. Seasoning your hummus with spices is perfect when you want to supercharge your hummus dishes with flavor. This trick also works with making canned soup taste better.

What to use instead of tahini? ›

Because tahini is the butter of sesame seeds, you might want to consider a nut or seed butter as a go-to substitute. Other options include greek yogurt and sesame oil. These tahini substitutes will complement your dish since they are all sources of healthy fats and contribute to a creamy consistency.

Can I leave tahini out of hummus? ›

Made with simple pantry ingredients, this creamy hummus without tahini recipe is going to be your new go to. It's just so versatile! Of course you can use some sesame seed paste if you want to, but the best thing about this recipe is that it tastes great without it!

What is tahini made of? ›

Tahini is made of three ingredients: hulled sesame seeds, oil and sometimes salt. Hulled sesame seeds are typically toasted then ground and emulsified with oil to create a smooth, creamy seed butter with a pourable consistency.

What are the ingredients in store bought hummus? ›

Ingredients: ​cooked chickpeas (chickpeas, water), water, tahini (ground sesame), canola oil, natural flavors, sea salt, dried roasted garlic, citric acid, spice.

Is hummus protein or carb? ›

First, let's look at the nutrition stats for hummus: a 2-tablespoon serving contains about 70 calories, 2 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of carbohydrates and 1.5 grams of fiber. The verdict based on the numbers and ingredients? Hummus is healthy—and you can include it as part of a nutritious diet.

Is hummus healthy for weight loss? ›

In answer to your question, “is hummus good for a diet?” the answer is a resounding, yes! Eat it for a snack with celery, carrots, or peppers, spread it over your whole wheat bread instead of mayo, or top your soups with a dollop. This tasty, healthy dip is good for losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle!

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