The Secret to the Best Homemade Hummus: Way Better than Store Bought

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Homemade Hummus is a comfort food. No debate. 

Sure, store-bought hummus is a quick option, but I’m here to change your mind: homemade hummus is EASY, QUICK, CHEAP and miiiiiiiiiles above any store-bought brand. 

I’ve adapted this recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks lately, The Gaza Kitchen. I love a cookbook that goes beyond recipes and gets into history, cooking methods, and lifestyle of the area it highlights. THIS is that book. 

Hummus is most simply a blend of chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed butter). However, adding acid from citrus and spices elevate this into the creamy, comforting spread we can’t get enough of. I like mixing things up with different add-ins to get variety from batch to batch. 


Related: Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Perfect Bars

Simple Homemade Hummus with real ingredients

One of my favorite aspects of hummus is that it is so versatile. It’s divine as a dip with raw veggies, naan bread, and chips; but it can also be used as a spread, a dressing, and as a sauce for pasta and stir-fry. 

Dogs Like it too!

My foundation for good homemade hummus starts with these ingredients:

-Chickpeas

-Tahini (also called Tahina)

-Lemon Juice

-Olive Oil

-Greek Yogurt 

-Garlic, Salt 

I will then ‘dress it up’ with various add-ins:

-Paprika

-Za’atar

-Sundried Tomatoes

-Cilantro, Basil, or Parsley

The quality of ingredients you choose will make or break your homemade hummus. I like checking local Mediterranean markets for red tahina paste. If that isn’t an option check World Market for high-quality Tahini. 


I buy organic chickpeas from Thrive Market. You can use cooked, canned chickpeas or take an extra step to soak and pressure cook dried chickpeas. 

For a dairy-free option, you can leave out the Greek Yogurt. The texture will be a bit less creamy, but still a step above store bought blends. Replace the yogurt with aquafaba to get your desired consistency.

Detail view of easy homemade hummus
Closeup view of better-than-storebought hummus

Simple Homemade Hummus

Homemade hummus is miles above store-bought and its super easy! I start with high-quallity ingredients and they blend together in the perfect consistency for dipping, spreading, smoothering, and devouring.
Course Snack
Cuisine Mediterranean
Keyword allergen-friendly, gluten-free
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 60kcal

Equipment

  • Blender or Food Processor

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups Cooked Chickpeas or 1 (15 oz) can Chickpeas
  • ¼ cup Red Tahina or Tahini
  • 2 tbsp Lemon Juice (Juice from 1 lemon)
  • 2 cloves Garlic Freshly ground or minced
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil plus more for topping
  • 1 tbsp Greek Yogurt or 1 tbsp aquafaba
  • 2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • Paprika, Sundried Tomatoes, Za'atar, or Red Chili to taste
  • Parsley, Basil, Cilantro to taste, or as topping

Instructions

  • If you're using dried chickpeas, start by soaking them overnight and then pressure cook or boil, reserving some cooking liquid (aquafaba).
  • Add chickpeas and tahini to a high-powered blender or food processor
  • Grind garlic in a mortar and pestle, or finely mince. Add to blender.
  • Add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and desired spices.
  • Blend on high for 30-60 seconds, or until a thick paste is formed.
  • Add Greek Yogurt, and pulse. If you're not using yogurt, add a small amount of aquafaba (liquid from the can or cooking liquid) until desired consistency is reached.
  • Serve warm, drizzled with extra olive oil, salt, and spices. Or keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Notes

Aquafaba: the cooking liquid from chickpeas, or the liquid in a can of chickpeas. This is super useful for a variety of recipes! I always save the liquid for future use. 
Dairy-Free: Use aquafaba in place of greek yogurt
My favorite variations: Sundried Tomato + Basil / Jalepeno + Red Chile + Cilantro / Paprika + Za’atar / Flaky Sea salt + Cumin 

Sometimes I’ll leave a few whole chickpeas for topping (plus a decadent extra drizzle of olive oil) and sometimes I’ll blend them all in. This is more for presentation and aesthetics— always a concern in my cooking. 

Serve hummus warm or cold, it’ll keep in the refrigerator for several days. 

I order my ingredients from Thrive Market. I find shelf-stable products at cheaper than grocery stores. The AIP-filter is awesome for navigating a tricky diet!


Way better than storebought easy homemade hummus recipe

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DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

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