It’s no secret that a lot of companies put fillers and preservatives in hummus — not something we want to encourage our families to eat by the spoonful. We’ve tried making almost every hummus recipe out there, but the texture is never quite right. How do these large companies mass produce smooth, tasty hummus (without adding all the crap)?
We think we finally nailed it.
You don’t have to give up on being that mom who makes her own hummus for her kids. Yeah, those five long minutes of labor are annoying, and that mess in the kitchen is brutal (washing that one container is really hard). Joking aside, it is a lot of work when, at the end of it all, your hummus recipe amounts to a gritty mess.
But, let’s be real, with a toddler, hummus can be a true lifesaver. Ever asked yourself which vegetables your kid has eaten for the day and get embarrassed by the answer? If you have picky kids, hummus can be a saving grace. Sure, you can find hummus at the store in a variety of flavors, but a lot of them are dripping in excess oils and salt — neither of which we want our kids to eat in excess. Mastering a hummus recipe at home that is smooth opens up all kinds of vegetable opportunities because you can blend them right in the hummus. Mom win!
Hummus Tips
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Buy dry chickpeas. You can purchase canned chickpeas if you can’t find dry, but just like with dry chickpeas, you want to rinse them really well. When using dry chickpeas, you need to cook them. You can do this either overnight or boil them, then let them rest for an hour. This softens your chickpeas and rids them of that outer layer that you don’t need. If you have an Instant Pot, you can just pressure cook on the beans setting.
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Blend the chickpeas warm. Why is this important? Because, just like anything else, when it’s warm, it’s going to be creamier. When the chickpeas are warm, tender, and wet, they are going to blend very smoothly in the food processor or blender instead of turning to dust.
Now that you know how to hack your hummus recipe, add any of your favorite veggies to your smooth hummus — snack options abound for your picky toddlers. But, of course, you have to make some for yourself too because hummus makes a great lunch for mamas on the go. Check out our quick and easy recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Ingredients:
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1 jar of organic fire-roasted red peppers
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1 bag of dry chickpeas
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1 cup of organic unsweetened tahini
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1 lemon
- 1 clove garlic (optional)
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1 cup of water
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1/2 cup of olive oil
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Salt and pepper to taste
Recipe:
Cook the chickpeas according to package instructions. Then combine the warm, cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon, olive oil, and water in a food processor. Blend until smooth.
Add the roasted red peppers and continue to blend until smooth. Add extra water and oil as needed. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Want to try an easy weeknight meal? Whip up some Okinawan Taco Rice!
Photo Credits: Christina Carter | Andrew & Mountain Kimley
