I don’t say this lightly: this is the best homemade hummus recipe! It’s easy to make with a handful of ingredients and features an incredible texture and restaurant-quality flavors, just like my Beet Hummus. One try and, like thousands of other readers, you’ll never go back to store-bought hummus again!
I’ve been making homemade hummus for over 8 years now. The most important lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t need to be a world-class chef to make the best homemade hummus. You just need a few quality ingredients and some tricks up your sleeve!
What is hummus?
Hummus (or “humus”, “houmous”, and “hommus”) is the Arabic word for “chickpeas”. It’s a naturally vegan dip or spread made primarily with cooked chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon, and salt; some versions also contain cumin.
Hummus has been a staple in many Middle Eastern countries for centuries. There’s actually quite a debate about who invented hummus and which countries can claim hummus as their own. If you’re interested in reading more, check out this article on who invented hummus and this article on hummus’s origins.
For more cultural and sociopolitical context, I also recommend the books of Palestinian food writer and historian, Reem Kassis (The Palestinian Table (2017) and The Arabesque Table (2021). The process and techniques I used have been largely influenced by three chefs—Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, and Michael Solomonov—so be sure to check out their cookbooks if you want to learn even more!
Why this recipe works
Incredibly creamy and smooth.
If you’ve eaten store-bought hummus, then you’ve experienced its infamous stiff and gloopy texture. That is NOT what we want. Instead, hummus should be creamy, as well as somewhat loose and pliable.
A handful of good-quality ingredients and simple techniques are all you need to make the best homemade hummus. The texture of this hummus is extremely creamy and smooth, never gritty or chunky. That alone will have you reaching for more.
Life-changing flavors.
I have a long list of grievances with store-bought hummus but one of the biggest is the flavor (or lack thereof). It’s also usually served cold, which causes the nutty richness that makes hummus amazing to lie dormant.
As chef Michael Solomonov mentions in his cookbook Zahav (the titular name of his restaurant where hummus is the most popular dish on the menu):
“[Even the best store-bought hummus] requires certain additives to make it shelf-stable–most likely citric acid. These additives turn hummus sharp and sour–light years away from the dreamy qualities of fresh hummus.” – Chef Michael Solomonov
Using fresh ingredients to make hummus from scratch helps you avoid those additives and flat flavors. Instead, each scoop is boldly nutty, lemony, and rich in flavor. It’s a life-changing experience.
It’s just plain foolproof.
It may sound complicated, but making your own hummus is easier than you’d think. All of the ingredients are easy to find, and the dip comes together entirely in a food processor.
The recipe gets a little more complicated if you’re cooking dried chickpeas yourself (the method I recommend) but I will guide you through the process below.
Ingredient notes
Chickpeas
AKA garbanzo beans. You can use both canned and dried chickpeas to make hummus but for the very best hummus, I like to cook dried chickpeas myself.
Canned chickpeas come with a firmer texture, which can leave the hummus with a slightly chunky texture.
There is a solution to this, though! When using canned chickpeas, just simmer the drained chickpeas in a pot of boiling water with baking soda. This will soften them right up. See the FAQ section for more details.
Tip: Using canned chickpeas? Remember to save the aquafaba (the water in the can)! Use it to make banana bread, vegan aioli, frothy cocktails, vegan whipped cream, and so much more.
Tahini
Tahini is a smooth and rich paste made from sesame seeds. It’s a primary ingredient in hummus and should never be left out. A good-quality brand of tahini makes a HUGE difference because its flavor is so prominent in every bite.
Tip: Always use tahini from hulled sesame seeds (unhulled sesame seeds are usually bitter). Check out my suggested tahini brands in the FAQ section below.
Lemon
Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens up the rich, nutty, and savory flavors. Without it, the hummus would lack its distinguishable ‘pop’.
Garlic
Some people (hi, me!) like their hummus quite garlicky. If you don’t love the sharpness of raw garlic, you can (1) use less garlic (start with 1 clove) or (2) quickly marinate the garlic cloves in a small bowl of the lemon juice.
Salt
For flavor and to make everything taste like itself!
Substitute: If using sea salt instead of the kosher salt called for in the recipe, you’ll need to use about half of the amount called for in the recipe, then adjust according to your desired taste.
Ice water
Water brings the hummus together. I learned from chefs Ottolenghi and Tamimi that ice water, in particular, makes the texture even creamier and gives it an almost fluffy, pillowy, and whipped consistency.
Step-by-step instructions
First, soak and cook the dried chickpeas if you haven’t done so already. Cook until very soft.
Or, if you’re using canned chickpeas, boil them in water with a little baking soda for a few minutes to help them soften.
Drain, then transfer to a food processor while still warm. Blend the chickpeas until you’re left with a thick puree.
Now add the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, kosher salt, and pepper. Blend again and slowly stream in the ice water as the machine is running.
Once it’s smooth and creamy, give the hummus a taste and add more seasonings or lemon juice as needed.
Make the lemon-garlic topping before serving the hummus. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add the garlic and cook until it’s golden. Add the lemon zest and cook for another 30 seconds.
Transfer the lemon zest and garlic to a plate (reserve the oil) and add a sprinkle of salt on top.
Dress and serve the hummus. Spoon the hummus onto a large serving plate. Use the back of the spoon to make waves on the top and/or a well in the center. Add the garlic-lemon topping and finish with a drizzle of the reserved oil, chopped flat-leaf parsley, and paprika or Aleppo pepper. Enjoy!
Tips for making the best hummus
To peel or not to peel?
You will achieve the absolute dreamiest texture if the chickpea skins are peeled beforehand, but it isn’t a necessary step.
A lot of chickpea skins actually start to come off naturally after the chickpeas have been boiled with some baking soda. Just discard any loose skins.
Hack for peeling chickpeas faster: Lay the cooked chickpeas on a paper towel. Use a second paper towel to rub them vigorously to help loosen the skins.
The chickpeas should be soft
You’ll know the chickpeas have been cooked to perfection when they feel very soft and can be easily squashed when pressed with a spoon/fork or pressed between your fingers.
If using canned chickpeas, it’s important to simmer them first so the hummus gets super smooth.
Serve hummus at room temperature (or warm)
This way, you experience hummus the way it’s intended to be experienced and how it’s typically served across the Middle East—a luxuriously smooth dip with layers of rich, nutty, and savory flavors.
One way I keep the hummus warm is to make it with chickpeas that have been recently cooked. However, if you’ve pre-cooked and refrigerated your chickpeas, consider warming the chickpeas up in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes first
How to serve this hummus
- One of the most popular ways to serve hummus here in the West is as an appetizer or snack. Make it a part of a grazing board, surrounded with pita bread or homemade naan, fresh-cut veggies, crackers, or pita chips for dipping.
- In the Middle East, you’ll find hummus included as part of the main or side dishes during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s great on a mezze platter with falafel, tabbouleh, and tzatziki; use it as the base layer on a plate, then top with cooked beans and roasted veggies (similar to my Broccoli and Za’atar Chickpeas with Yogurt Sauce); or enjoy it with your favorite vegan protein, like Grilled Tofu Skewers.
- Hummus is always a fantastic addition to Mediterranean grain bowls and can even be thinned out with water, lemon juice, or vinegar for an easy salad dressing.
- Slather it onto a sandwich or in a stuffed pita with crumbled vegan feta, arugula or kale, cucumber, and pickled red onions.
- Don’t forget the toppings! You can take hummus over the top with the fried garlic and lemon topping from this recipe. Or, to get it on the table faster, stick with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, sumac or paprika, pine nuts, Aleppo pepper, and/or za’atar on top.
Frequently asked questions
The results won’t be quite as smooth but you can definitely make hummus with canned chickpeas.
In this recipe, you can substitute the dried chickpeas with 2 (15-ounce/425g) drained and rinsed cans.
While it’s easiest to just use a can of drained chickpeas to the food processor, the texture can be slightly chunky and not lusciously smooth. This is because, for hummus, you want super soft chickpeas that have fewer skins. And canned chickpeas are not super soft (they’re rather firm and great for salads/bowls and eating whole.
To remedy that, you can cook the canned chickpeas (even though they’re already cooked). Add them to a saucepan, cover with an inch or two of water, and add ½ 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. Continue making the recipe as per the instructions at step 3 (draining the chickpeas and adding them to the food processor.
My two favorite brands for tahini are Soom Foods and Seed + Mill. Soom Foods 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, Beirut Sesame Paste is quite good and the Whole Foods 365 brand is decent (affiliate links).
Yes. A high-powered blender with a baton is best and will make the hummus super smooth. However, it’s pretty important to use a small-capacity blender, as there is very little liquid in the recipe. If you use a 64-ounce container, for instance, you’ll have trouble getting it to blend.
It will stay fresh and creamy for up to 1 week in the fridge (but it’s best within 4 days). You can prevent it from drying out by storing it in an airtight container with a light layer of extra virgin olive oil on top.
Allow it to come to room temperature, or warm it up. Warming it up loosens the texture, making it smoother. Simply add the amount of hummus you’d like to reheat to a saucepan, add a couple teaspoons of water, and stir constantly for a few minutes until warmed through. Or, heat it in the microwave in 10-second increments, stirring after each round.
Yes, you can technically freeze hummus, though you’ll lose some of that irresistible texture. To freeze, transfer the hummus to an airtight container but leave some room at the top to allow for expansion. Thaw it in the fridge the day before consuming.
Watch! How to make this hummus
How to make the best hummus of your life
If you love this Homemade Hummus recipe, 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.
The Best Homemade Hummus
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (227g) dried chickpeas* (1 cup + 2 tbsp)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda, divided
- A generous ¾ cup (175-195g) good-quality tahini
- 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more to taste
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped**
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin, plus more to taste
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 6 to 10 tablespoons ice water
Fried Garlic-Lemon Topping (Optional)
- ⅓ cup (80 mL) good-quality extra virgin olive oil
- 5 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 4 to 6 strips of lemon peel, about 2 inches long (don't peel too deeply to avoid the white pith)
- Flaky sea salt or kosher salt
Other Topping Options***
- 1 handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- Paprika, sumac, or Aleppo pepper flakes
Instructions
- Soak the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas to a large bowl. Cover with cold water and ½ teaspoon baking soda. Soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse.
- Cook the chickpeas. Add the drained chickpeas to a medium saucepan with ½ teaspoon baking soda and 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover the pot, and reduce the heat as needed to maintain a rapid simmer and cook for 30 minutes.Uncover the pot and add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chickpeas are very soft and smush when pressed with a spoon/fork or pressed between your fingers. Drain well.
- Drain the chickpeas, then transfer to a food processor. Blend for 1-2 minutes until you have a smooth puree, scraping down the sides as you go.
- To the food processor, add ¾ cup tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, 1 heaping teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Blend, and with the motor running, stream in the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. After 6 tablespoons of ice water, evaluate the texture. If you want it to be looser, stream in more water, and continue blending until smooth and creamy. Once you reach your desired texture, taste for seasonings, adding more salt, garlic, cumin, or lemon juice as needed.
- Make the topping. Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is warm (but not too hot), add the garlic and cook, swirling the pan or stirring frequently, for 2 to 2 ½ minutes, until the garlic just turns golden (don't wait until it browns). Add the lemon zest and cook for another 30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the garlic and lemon zest to a plate and sprinkle with a bit of flaky sea salt. Reserve the oil.
- 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. Spoon the garlic-lemon oil into the ridges or into the well. Top with the fried garlic and lemon zest. Top with chopped parsley and a few shakes of paprika.
Notes
I made this and it was delicious. I will use a nut-grater to get fine lemon zest for the oil as we found the large strips of lemon peel were a little large for dipping, and the grated zest will get crunchy.
Also – don’t use too much baking soda and then turn your back on the simmering peas lol – mine foamed over like a bad laundry scene from I Love Lucy!
Thanks for the recipe and allowing my wife and I to enjoy some delicious home-made hummus!
Loved it! Even my 4 year old couldn’t walk away from it. I used canned chickpeas because I needed the aquafaba and didn’t bother to cook them because I was in a rush and it still came out great. Can’t wait to try it using dried chickpeas.
This hummus was so good! For me the topping wasn’t even necessary though. Mine was really light even with only 6 TBSP of water!! I used homemade tahini also. This was so amazing! My mom said it tastes a lot like Israeli hummus and she loves that.
The hummus turned out amazing and closest I’ve gotten to restaurant quality to date! The ice water and boiling the chickpeas with baking soda really made a difference. I cooked from dried chickpeas, not canned. Definitely go the extra mile for the garlic lemon oil for topping! Will definitely recommend this to my friends!
Wow! Delish…texture and flavor amazing. The top of it dried out a bit while I was making the topping, but the EVOO drizzle sorted that out. Thank you!
This hummus sounds wonderful!
I don’t have a food processor or a high-powered blender; just a good, old Waring blender. How did people make it before electric appliances? I do have a heavy duty Food Mill. I’d really love to try this recipe.
Thanks so much.
wow – i just made this and ate half the bowl!!! this is so perfect – thank you so much!
Hands down DA BEST Hummus recipe I have ever tried. So creamy and fluffy!
Thank you, Maneesha! So flattered you think this is the best hummus recipe. So happy you tried it out!
Looks delicious, love the instructions, clear simple and to the point. Will try it out.
Hi Nisha,
I will be using canned chickpeas. Do they require the continued cooking for 10-15 minutes with the kosher salt?
Thanks so much!
No, you can skip that part! But you’ll probably need to add a bit more salt during the blending phase.
Thanks so much! BTW, I really enjoy your YouTube videos and the funny antics of your family. ;)
How do you store the hummus and how many days will it keep? Also, if hummus is best served warm or at room temperature – how do you heat up hummus if you must store it in the refrigerator?
Hi Alison, there’s a section in the blog post “how to store” and “storing and reheating hummus” – hope that helps.
Hi Nisha,
The thing that keeps me from making my own hummus is the removal of the chickpea skins. If you soak them with the baking soda, will the skins float to the surface so they can be removed fairly easily or do you still need to slide them of the chickpeas by hand or rubbing in a towel? Your recipe makes me want to try making home made again :)
Hi Jennifer, a lot of the skins do float to the surface, though not all. But cooking the chickpeas down until very soft, along with a good food processor, seems to be sufficient to get really smooth hummus without having to peel all of the skins.
hi nisha,
some ideas to improve the hummus
1. when you cook the hummus add 1/2 an onion+ fresh parsley
2. save the water and use it while making the hummus
3. put all the ingredients into the food processor and let it work
4. add the water you cooked the hummus in
5. instead of using the oil you frayed the garlic in – use fresh olive oil
6. try cooking the hummus in a pressure cooker without adding baking soda
7.removing a lot of the chickpea skins will make your hummus softer and with less “after shocks”
love your blog
Thank you for mansplaining. I would have been so lost without these critical embellishments…
Amazing! I used the soaked dry chickpeas . Mine came out quite thick due to the amount of tahini used , I think. I thinned it with extra lemon juice and ice water. I too like lots of lemon. I usually don’t use as much tahini, but the hummus was the best ever! The lemon-garlic topping is epic! We can’t stop eating it! :) Thank you Nisha!
Is there a way to still make this amazing homemade hummus without tahini, as I’m allergic to sesame? Love your recipes and positivity, thanks!
Hi Catherine, thank you! From what I see online, most hummus recipes made without tahini use extra virgin olive oil instead. But certainly not the same amount as the tahini – it would be too oily. I’d start with 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) and scale up as needed to get to your required consistency.
You are right! Best hummus! I made it for my mother in laws 86th birthday and the first time we got to gather with no masks! I have made many hummuses over the years and this was amazing. I came home after we gathered only to put the hummus on bread with cucumbers and tomatoes for dinner. Thank you for sharing. P.S. I am currently in chemo and your videos keep me going as I have a list of what to make in May once I have my taste back 100% and when the real healing begins. CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!!
Hi Tonia! I’m so grateful to hear that you were able to share this hummus with your family during your first “normal” get together after a year. I am also so grateful that my videos are inspiring you during this difficult time. I will be thinking of you and hoping for a quick and smooth recovery!
This article is the perfect example of why Nisha’s blog is my go-to resource for vegan cooking: a deep dive into not just the recipe, but also the ingredients and techniques, handy tips and tricks, alternatives, comparison photos, and an incredibly useful “what not to look for”. This is the level of detail and research that I enjoy (and very much appreciate you doing for us)! Your treatise on hummus is beautiful, and I’m soaking some chickpeas as we speak so I can very soon make this.
Just curious: why do we skim off the foam from the top of the chickpea water? Can we use this water for recipes that call for aquafaba (perhaps by boiling it off a little so it’s thicker)? And, what are some potential uses for the chickpea skins? I imagine they can be thrown into salads, pastas etc for some extra fibre? Thanks in advance!
Thank you so much, Sam! I am so flattered that you appreciate the detailed post with all the info. I love writing this stuff, time consuming as it may be lol. Every time I’ve watched a video, I’ve seen the chef skim off the foam, but I don’t think it’s technically necessary.
This blog post might be worth reading: https://vegfaqs.com/why-do-chickpeas-foam/
I haven’t ever used chickpea skins but thought this idea of frying them might intrigue you! https://noteatingoutinny.com/2020/05/27/homemade-hummus-with-fried-chickpea-skins/
Thanks Nisha, the mystery of the foam has been solved at last! I also read the second article about fried chickpea skins – an interesting idea, might give it a shot. Finally made the hummus yesterday and it was so incredible, I had a hard time stopping myself eating it by the spoonful. The iced water trick was key, because in the past I’ve used lukewarm water I cooked the chickpeas in, and it never turned out so fluffy.
Let me also say I really appreciate that you do not suggest peeling the skin off each chickpea by hand – something I’ve seen in plenty of other recipes, and never been motivated to try.
Hi Sam, so great to hear you ended up making the hummus and loved it! Ice water is such a great technique – I remember it made such a difference once I first tried it!
I usually skip a couple steps when making hummus and I’m always a little disappointed with my results. I followed Nisha’s recipe exactly and omg. It is the best.hummus.ever.
The best!
That’s so great to hear that those steps helped you get the best hummus! Thanks for sharing Audrey!
Ah, I haven’t tried the recipe yet, but I wanted to comment to commend you for what an amazingly comprehensive post this is on homemade hummus!! I too was shocked at how much better homemade hummus is after I tried it at a restaurant and I’ve been itching to make my own, but I’ve always been intimidated :( Once I can get my hands on the ingredients, it’s definitely being made :)
Just a few questions though! 1. Can I use a blender instead of a food processor? 2. Where does one purchase dried chickpeas? 3. Any recommendations for a good quality olive oil?
Thanks in advance!
Thank you Seule! I tried to be as comprehensive as I could be :) You can use a blender but it should be a high-powered one to get a smooth texture. You can purchase dried chickpeas at certain grocery stores (I’ve bought them at whole foods and sprouts), especially health foods stores and stores with bulk bins. I think you can also purchase them at Walmart (according to their website). And at Middle Eastern or Indian grocery stores! For olive oil, a good-quality yet affordable olive oil is California Olive Ranch or Carapelli. One of my fave fancy olive oils are from Brightland, though they are pricy.
Happened to have all the ingredients for hummus when I saw this and it was delicious!