Homemade Houmous is amazing… This simple recipe will show you how to make a classic-spiced dip in just 5 to 10 minutes in a blender. Gluten free; Dairy free; Vegan.
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Homemade Houmous – A taste revelation
If you love houmous but have never made it at home, then it’s time to ask the question ‘why’? Homemade Houmous is a taste revelation. Perhaps a little ‘earthier’ and with more ‘body’ than the shop-bought stuff, it is packed full of the flavours of North Africa… Each spice and element shining in its own right. And it will save you a small fortune if you are a serious houmous-lover.
It is also incredibly simple to make… Once you have your key ingredients, it is literally a 5 to 10 minute blender job.
What is Houmous?
Houmous is a wonderful savoury dip that is fundamentally made from mashed or blended chickpeas, combined with creamy tahini (sesame paste), a little garlic, oil, lemon and spices.
Its actual origins remain unclear… However, there is historical evidence that indicates Hummus dates back to at least 13th Century Egypt. And on that basis, it is entirely probable that its roots lie in North Africa.
Homemade Houmous or Hummus?
But is it homemade houmous or ‘hummus’? Like so many foods, there seem to be multiple spellings dependent on where you are in the world and where you are buying from. I’ve even seen it spelled ‘humus’, ‘houmus’ and ‘hommus’.
In the UK, the spelling ‘houmous’ seems to be the norm for most, if not all supermarket products. And since that’s what I grew up with, that’s what I have called this particular recipe. But is it right?
It seems I am not the only one confused… Back in 2017, after a taste crisis resulting in the temporary withdrawal of houmous from supermarket shelves, it appears the whole social media nation was debating it.
An article in the Mail on-line outlines the nub of the argument, concluding that in fact, ‘houmous’ may be wrong! At least that is, based on the origins of this much-loved dip… It would appear that ‘hummus’ is closer to the Arabic translation – ‘hummus bi tahini’… meaning ‘chickpeas with tahini.
Nonetheless, ‘houmous’ remains an approved spelling in the English dictionary… So, I guess technically, it really doesn’t matter!
Is Houmous Healthy?
Houmous is an amazingly healthy food. Not only is it a fantastic source of good unsaturated fats, but it is also low-carb and high protein. And that makes it a perfect food for everyone, but especially vegetarians and those following a Vegan diet.
Houmous is a good source of B vitamins and also the minerals magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron… And it counts towards your ‘5 a day’.
Ways to eat Homemade Houmous
Being a dip, homemade houmous is perfect served in a bowl with breadsticks, crackers, toasted pitta bread, tortilla chips or fresh-cut, raw sticks of vegetables (carrot, cucumber, pepper and celery). But it is equally delicious as a spread too… Smear thickly on homemade toast or use for Toast Bruschetta Appetizers for the yummiest experience.
Alternatively, it makes the perfect base for a falafel wrap in Soft Roti Flatbreads, or used to moisten baked fish as a houmous crust with breadcrumbs.
However, you eat it, homemade houmous is always a pleasure.
The versatility of Homemade Houmous
One of the best things about homemade houmous is its flavour versatility. The recipe given here is simple and classic… spiced with a little paprika and cumin and mixed with a hint of walnut oil for a nutty backdrop. But this is just a base for creativity in the extreme.
A favourite variation at GFHQ is Hummus with Caramelised Onion and Turmeric. It’s packed full of flavour with the sweetness of the onion mingling in perfect harmony with the earthiness of the spice.
But there are so many options… You can add anything from different spices or lemon and herbs, to bell peppers, chilli, carrot or sundried tomato. You can even go green with a richly-coloured and iron-fuelled Spinach and Parsley Houmous… Or pink with a pretty Roasted Beetroot Hummus. I’ve even seen recipes for Strawberry Hummus on the web. Just let your imagination run wild…
Do I need any special equipment for Homemade Houmous?
The only important equipment required for homemade houmous is a powerful blender or food processor… If you like your houmous smooth that is. There are many out there on the market, but finding one that suits your needs is definitely worth the investment.
I recently bought a Vitamix Ascent blender after several months of research. So far, I’m really happy with it. It wasn’t cheap, but it has ground and blended its way through a multitude of recipes perfectly… From Best Vegetable Soup and Healthy Homemade Nutella… to Chocolate Avocado Mousse and Energy Balls.
Alternative blenders that seem to be well-rated include the Froothie Evolve and the KitchenAid. I’ve also just been sent a smaller PROMiXX MiiXR X7 Smoothie Blender which I intend to test on the likes of houmous and nut butters as well… We’ll see!
Other recipes with Houmous/Hummus on Gluten Free Alchemist
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Classic Homemade Houmous
Key equipment
- sieve
- blender/food processor
Ingredients
Classic Houmous
- 400 g tinned chickpeas 1 tin – drained and rinsed
- 3 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
- 2½ tbsp lemon juice more or less, dependent on how lemony you like it
- 1 large clove garlic or more for greater garlic intensity
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- grind black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp walnut oil
- cold water to reach desired consistency
Decoration
- smoked paprika
- fresh chopped coriander
- ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil drizzle
Instructions
- Drain the chickpeas from the tin into a sieve and rinse thoroughly.
- Put all the ingredients into a food processor or good blender and add a couple of tablespoons cold water.
- Blend until smooth. Check the consistency and if you want it a little ‘looser’, add a little more water and blend again.
- Spoon into a bowl and top with a little chopped coriander, a sprinkle of paprika and a drizzle of good olive oil.
Notes
Nutrition
© 2019-2023 Kate Dowse All Rights Reserved – Do not copy or re-publish this recipe or any part of this recipe on any other blog, on social media or in a publication without the express permission of Gluten Free Alchemist
Great info on the name. I had no idea it was different in different places. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for dinner party. Hope the rest of your week is joyful!
Thanks Helen. Yeah… So many foods, seem to have different spellings, names and little differences. It’s such fun finding out about all of them.
Thanks for hosting and commenting x
There is never enough houmous! Delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe 🙂
Happy Fiesta Friday
I totally agree Petra. If I was the last woman on earth and the only thing I had was a tub of houmous, I’d be happy xxx
I love houmous but believe it or not I have never made it myself. I will have to have a go at your one, it sounds so good. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Thanks Kirsty… you're welcome. You MUST try making it! It was so easy….. and once converted, it seems bonkers to be buying it! x
This looks gorgeous – I bet the walnut oil gives it a lovely flavour! I also really like the look of those colourful little dipping chips. Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice.
Thanks Corina. The walnut oil was quite subtle, but I think I would use more on another occasion! The dipping chips are really good….. I have now found them being sold in Waitrose too!
Sounds FAbulous!!! I will definitely give this a try…Pinned 🙂
Thanks Angela x
I love houmous. Both kids are allergic to sesame so we can't have any shop bought ones with Tahini so I made my own too. #freefromfridays
It's interesting….. as I was making it I was thinking about substitutions for the Tahini. I guess houmous can be made with all sorts of things and it is so easy to make, it is one of the easier dishes to make allergen-free. Do you replace the Tahini with anything specific?
I adore hummus but your additions are making me swoon! Walnut oil and smoked paprika… mmmmmm. Wish I could dip a cracker into the screen and have a taste!
Thank you Aimee. Houmous is just so versatile, now I feel a little more confident, I think I could be trying a few more additions!
I love hummus but this looks WAYYY TOO DANGEROUS! I mean it's so easy and quick -I can have it every day!
Ha ha! Me too Anne…. Houmous is one of those foods that I will never tire of. But that's fine…. I can think of far worse things to be eating! x
Welcome to the world of hummus making – am sure you wont look back – unless you have a fussy child! Not eating home made hummus is one of my gripes – Sylvia loves hummus but does not like the home made stuff – I have made some progress with her trying things so maybe this post will inspire me to try again – love the photo with the colourful crackers! Am sure we might see some variations here too!
Thanks Johanna. I certainly think home-made houmous will be making a take-over bid for fridge space.
Shame Sylvia is a bit picky over it….. But it is quite different from shop-bought in texture at least. Maybe if you sneak it into sandwiches, she might get used to eat without realising?! x