If you’re looking for fun and flavorful ways to use the canned chickpeas in your pantry, you have to give this Beet Hummus a try! It tastes just as good as it looks, with subtly sweet and earthy notes from roasted beets mixed with a creamy, nutty chickpea-and-tahini base.
I’ve been making hummus from scratch for years, and my Amazing Homemade Hummus recipe is a must-try. That said, occasionally, I like to jazz up the flavors with creative add-ins.
That’s where nutrient-dense beets come in. They’re roasted, then blended with classic hummus ingredients, like chickpeas, tahini, and garlic. Every bite is so uniquely delicious and gorgeously vibrant that you won’t want to put the pita down.
Table of Contents:
1. Why this recipe works
2. Ingredient Notes
3. Step-by-step instructions
4. Tips for making this recipe
5. How to serve this hummus
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Recipe Card
Why this recipe works
Adapted from my tried-and-tested hummus recipe.
With 3 million views on YouTube and 280+ 5-star reviews, my homemade hummus recipe is a fan favorite. So using it as the base for this beet hummus (also known as beetroot hummus, outside of the U.S.) was a no-brainer!
Ultra-creamy texture without too much extra work.
In a classic hummus recipe, dried chickpeas cooked from scratch definitely lend the best flavor and texture. Some recipes even have you peel the skin form each chickpea to achieve that dreamy texture.
BUT, when making beet hummus, there’s plenty of moisture from cooked beets, so from-scratch beans aren’t essential to getting the perfect dreamy, creamy texture.
This recipe keeps it simple by using canned chickpeas (without sacrificing flavor or texture). But when blended, plain canned chickpeas are a bit chunky and stiff.
Solution: Briefly simmer the chickpeas until really soft! They soften and blend into pure creaminess in this hummus (check those photos for the silky smooth texture!).
Vibrant and appealing.
One look at a bowlful of bright pink hummus and your guests will be swooning over this wholesome dip. The presentation is just so dang appealing while the flavors are well-balanced, nutty, subtly sweet, and divine. It’s the best of both worlds!
Ingredient notes
Beets. Adding roasted beets gives hummus a very subtle earthy sweetness that pairs amazingly well with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon. Also, would you look at that color? You can’t replicate that hot pink hue with anything else.
In addition to color and flavor, beets are packed with a ton of vitamins and minerals. They’re loaded with folic acid (just one beet has 25% of your daily value), copper, manganese, and more.
Substitute: While I highly recommend roasting the beets yourself for the best flavor, pre-cooked store-bought beets (sold in the refrigerated or produce section) will work in a pinch.
Tahini. Tahini is a paste made from unhulled or hulled sesame seeds. It’s essential in hummus and is what gives the dip its nutty flavor and richness.
You need a generous amount of tahini, so a high-quality brand made from hulled sesame seeds is key (tahini from unhulled sesame seeds is bitter).
Check out my suggested tahini brands in the FAQ section below.
Chickpeas. Hummus literally means chickpeas in Arabic, so these are essential. While you can certainly make use dried chickpeas cooked from scratch, we got excellent results using canned chickpeas that were briefly simmered until fully softened.
Lemon. Acidic citrus juice brightens up this hummus with its noticeable zippiness. It awakens every part of this rich vegan dip and also balances the natural bitterness of tahini and the earthiness of beets.
Garlic. Raw garlic gives the hummus a nice zing and great savory flavor. If you don’t love the sharpness of raw garlic, use just 1 or 2 cloves.
Cumin + coriander. Warm earthy cumin tones down the sweetness of the beets, while citrusy coriander accents the lemon. Both complement the chickpeas and tahini so well.
Za’atar (optional). This fragrant Middle Eastern seasoning is citrusy, herbaceous, and slightly nutty. I like to sprinkle some on top of the hummus before serving. My favorite store-bought za’atar is from Z&Z (affiliate link), a Palestinian family-run business.
For a simple homemade za’atar: In a small bowl, mix 1 TBSP minced fresh thyme, 1 TBSP toasted white sesame seeds, 1 tsp sumac, and 1/4 tsp coarse or flaky sea salt. Mix well and store the leftovers in the pantry for a few weeks.
Use leftovers in my Charred Broccoli & Za’atar Chickpeas dinner plate.
Step-by-step instructions
Roast the beets. Massage a thin layer of olive oil on the washed and scrubbed beets. Place them in a baking dish filled with some water, then cover and bake until fork tender.
Once cool enough to touch, run the roasted beets under running water to remove the peel. Roughly chop them.
Simmer the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas to a saucepan and cover with water; add the baking soda. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes until the chickpeas start falling apart.
Drain and discard any loose skins left behind. No need to peel the rest!
Transfer cooked chickpeas to a food processor. Blend the chickpeas until you end up with a smooth puree.
Add the beets, tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and spices to the processor. Blend the ingredients until they turn into smooth, bright pink hummus. Taste for seasonings, adding more salt, lemon, garlic, etc. as needed.
Tip: The texture shouldn’t be too thick, but if it is, you can thin it out slightly by blending in 1 tablespoon of ice water.
Transfer the finished hummus to a serving bowl, add your garnishes on top, then serve!
Tips for making this recipe
For the pinkest hue and best flavor. Roast or steam whole beets rather than using store-bought pre-cooked beets.
Sure, pre-packaged beets are convenient, but your hummus won’t be nearly as vibrant or flavorful. Plus, cooking whole beets is a very hands-off process!
Tip: Roast a bunch of beets all at once. Then you can incorporate them into meals all week, such as this beet and fennel salad, grain bowls, grill them like this, or puree them into a creamy pasta sauce.
Wear gloves to avoid pink hands. Wear food-safe gloves to avoid temporarily staining your hands. If you don’t have gloves or the beet juice has traveled elsewhere, use this guide EatingWell to get beet stains out of clothes, skin, and cutting boards.
Also, peel roasted beets while they’re still warm (it’s easier).
Canned chickpeas are cooked…but they need to be cooked again. Canned chickpeas are quite firm, which is great for salads, but not so great for blending into creamy, smooth hummus.
Simmer the chickpeas with baking soda for 20 minutes. Baking soda helps soften them more quickly and removes quite a lot of the chickpea skins, resulting in creamy, smooth beans that blend like a dream.
Tip: Try multi-tasking to make the most of your time. Start boiling the water and simmering the chickpeas when the beets are roasting or as you’re waiting for them to cool.
Prep ahead of time. Save even more time by roasting the beets and/or simmering the chickpeas 2 to 3 days ahead of time. Store them in separate containers in the fridge until it’s time to blend.
How to serve this hummus
- Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on top of beetroot hummus, sprinkle on Za’atar and chopped flat-leaf parsley. Serve with grazing bites, such as toasted pita triangles, homemade naan, fresh-cut veggies, pita chips, or crackers.
- Have you ever used hummus as a salad dressing? It’s convenient and delicious. Thin out a scoop or two with water, lemon juice, or champagne vinegar, then pour it over a simple green salad or grain bowl. I like it with these 3 Delicious Vegan Salads for Summer.
- Slather beet hummus onto some good, crusty bread and top with pan-fried tofu, sprouts, cucumbers, pickled onions, and crumbled vegan feta for an epic vegan sandwich.
- Serve this gorgeous dip at parties and get-togethers, along with any of these other 30 Delicious Vegan Dips.
- Pack as a healthy snack in your weekly lunches with carrots, cucumber, celery, and pita for dipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure. The color of the hummus won’t be as vibrant and it won’t taste as flavorful, but it will still work.
I recommend simmering the chickpeas for the best, smoothest texture. If you don’t mind a rougher, chunkier consistency, you can skip this step.
My two favorite brands of tahini are Soom Foods and Seed + Mill. Soom Foods (affiliate link) is easily available on Amazon. Seed + Mill is a smaller operation local to New York and sold at some Whole Foods; if you can find it, it’s liquid gold.
For options that are a bit cheaper, I like Beirut sesame paste, Baron’s is quite good, and the Whole Foods 365 brand is decent
Pack the leftover hummus into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Before serving, allow the leftovers to come down to room temperature or warm them up on the stove with a splash of water.
You can freeze this, but you’ll lose some of the fabulous texture. Freeze it in an airtight container but leave room at the top for expansion. Thaw it in the fridge before serving.
If you love this Beet Hummus, please be sure to leave a rating and review below! It’s always much appreciated :) And tag me on Instagram – I love hearing your feedback.
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Beet Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 small-medium beet (~5 ounces or 140g) (Note 1)
- 1 (15-ounce/425g) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (Note 2)
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- Heaping 1/3 cup (90g) good-quality tahini (Note 3)
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced (~ 3 TBSP juice) more as needed
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (optional, for richness)
For serving
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Za’atar (optional; store-bought or homemade, see Note 4)
- Chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Homemade toasted pita chips, warm pita or flatbread, crackers, or crudités (see Note 5)
Instructions
- Prep the (beets). Preheat the oven to 425°F/218°C. Trim off any beet greens and most of their attached stalks (leave some of the stalk intact to prevent beets from “bleeding” in the oven). If the beets have any skinny tails, don’t trim them, as it results in less juicy beets. Wash and scrub the beets.
- Roast the beet(s). Rub beets with a bit of olive oil so they have a thin coating. Transfer to an ovenproof baking dish or ovenproof pan for which you have a tight-fitting lid. Add ½ cup (120 mL) water, and cover tightly with foil or the lid. Roast for 45 to 60 minutes, or until fork-tender (medium-sized beets usually take 60 minutes; small beets 45 minutes). While still warm but not hot, run the beets under cool water and peel off the skins (they're easier to peel when warm). Wear food-safe gloves to avoid temporarily staining your hands. Cut the stems off and discard. Roughly chop the beets.
- Simmer the chickpeas. Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas to a saucepan, cover with an inch or two of water, and add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a rapid simmer for 20 minutes, or until the chickpeas start falling apart.
- Drain and rinse cooked chickpeas. Remove any loose skins, but no need to peel the rest. Transfer chickpeas to a food processor or small-capacity high-powered blender (Note 6). Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until you have a smooth puree, scraping down the sides as you go.
- Blend the hummus. Add the cooked beet, tahini, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, all of the lemon juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, ½ heaping teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Add the olive oil for a richer mouthfeel. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides with a silicone spatula as you go. Check the consistency. To make it a bit looser, add 1 tablespoon of ice water and blend again. If you prefer a thicker texture, omit.
- Once you reach your desired texture, taste for seasonings, adding more salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, or cumin/coriander as needed.
- Transfer the hummus to a large plate and use the back of a spoon to make waves or to make a well in the center. Drizzle with olive oil in the well and garnish with Za’atar if using, cilantro or parsley, and a pinch of flaky salt.
Notes
Recipe: Nisha Vora / Rainbow Plant Life | Photography: Megan Morello
I love your beet hummus! I usually roast a few beets at once and freeze them in little cubes. No need to thaw them before you make your next hummus. The little ice beet cubes will make it even creamier.
Hi there, that’s a great idea! Thanks for the tip :)
Great recipe. The trick to a smooth consistency is boiling the chickpeas
Hi Dorrette, thank you so much for your kind review!
Absolutely delicious!😋 Thank you for yet another soul-satisfying recipe!
Hi Marie, Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! Appreciate you taking the time!
Creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, satisfying and a beautiful presentation! Served it as a starter for Christmas eve and people would not stop saying how good it was.
Those words are music to our ears, Tina! :) Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful flavor and oh, so pretty! WAY better than any other hummus I’ve made.
Used store bought beets. Used your instant pot method for dried chickpeas and they were perfect. Never knew chickpeas could actually taste great themselves since the ones from the can are somewhat tasteless. Recipe was super easy, came together quickly, and tastes amazing. Can’t wait to share with friends tomorrow. Thank you again for another stellar recipe.
Hi Sheri, it’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
Hi there! This was a super fun recipe to try and tastes great 👍
Would you have any tips for getting the hummus as brightly colored as your picture? I tried adding extra beets but could not get the crimson-y color like yours. Thank you!
Hi Heather, we’re so happy you enjoyed it! Did you cook fresh beets from the store or use storebought precooked beets? We’ve found using fresh beets creates that gorgeous color.
such an incredible recipe and so beautiful! will definitely be a go-to for potlucks and dinner parties going forward.
Hi Grace, it’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
Beyond tasty! I followed everything minus I started with making the chickpeas in the Instant Pot based on your hummus recipe. Weighed out the final product and followed everything else thereafter. So good <3
Hi Paul, we’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
This recipe brightened my whole week. I didn’t get to roast the beets, but I do have a lot of precooked ones sitting in my fridge. I was amazed at how well it went with the hummus that I can’t look back. I’ve only made hummus once using dried chickpeas and found it to be a lot of labor, but was surprised that using canned was perfectly fine and saved me so much time! I would definitely entertain guests with this instead of going for store bought.
Your review made our day, Mon! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for trying out the recipe. I agree, the RPL hummus recipes are killer!
Very delicious, great texture!
Lila, So glad to hear you loved this recipe!
Made this yesterday and its so delicious! Served some on top of my rice and roast veggies for dinner tonight and it made the meal so much more exciting!
Hi Kelly, Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! Appreciate you taking the time!
This recipe is AWESOME – I am a beet lover and always look for new ways to incorporate them into new recipes.. This is the perfect combo and is delightful with the homemade naan recipe!
Hi Maddi, Thank you so much for such a fantastic review! Appreciate you taking the time!
This has become a new staple in our household! So delicious + the color is beautiful.
Curious how long you recommend keeping it after making?
Thank you for your lovely comment, Kristina! It makes us happy to know that you enjoyed the recipe.
As for your storage question, the answer can be found in the FAQ section at the bottom of the blog post, but I’ll add it here for your convenience:
“Pack the leftover hummus into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Before serving, allow the leftovers to come down to room temperature or warm them up on the stove with a splash of water.”
I was out of chickpeas so I swapped them for red kidney beans and I skipped the oil. Delicious! I used it to jazz up our otherwise kinda bland lunch bowls, the husband loved it too!
Hi Viktória, we’re thrilled to hear you two enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating alongside your review? Star ratings are big help to readers who are thinking of making the recipe. Thanks!
One of the few times I’ve made hummus homemade, and this by far trumps any of the store bought hummus I’ve ever tried or any other hummus recipe I’ve made. I had a couple beets I needed to make so this worked out perfect! So delicious and the color is so pretty too :)
Hi Kristen, we’re so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a review :)
Really fantastic! The earthiness from the roasted beets adds a really nice flavor, and of course color too :) The lemon juice and zest go perfectly with the rich tahini, and the za’atar and olive oil together were the truly the bow on top.
Hi Karishma, it’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
This was absolutely gorgeous! I’ve made this recipe with both store bought, pre-cooked beets and with beets I roasted myself. Both are scrumptious but the latter version is much more vibrant – definitely worth it in my opinion, especially as it’s so hands off.
Thanks for sharing, Ellie! :) We’re happy you love the hummus.
This was fun to make and tasty too. It was also surprisingly easy. I’ll definitely be making my own hummus again in the future.
We appreciate your feedback and support, Crystal. Thank you for leaving a review!
Superb and easy healthy dip
Thanks for letting know us the recipe
Hi Prathibha, it’s great to hear you had success with the recipe. Thanks for the review!
I made the beet hummus for a birthday party with my in-laws. Before anybody even tasted it, I got a lot of compliments on the gorgeous color of the hummus and then it tasted delicious too! For a first time hummus-maker, the instructions were easy to follow with a lot of good tip (cooking the canned chickpeas again with the baking soda is genius since I could basically use a fork to mash them).
Hi Woutje, we’re so happy everyone enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a review :)