11 Hummus Recipes That Will Make You Ditch Store-Bought for Good (2024)

FAQs

How do you kick up store bought hummus? ›

Next, enhance the blank slate of flavor with a few squeezes of lemon juice, a sprinkling of garlic salt, a turn of freshly cracked pepper, a heavy-handed sprinkle of paprika, and a generous drizzle of your nicest olive oil. Bonus points if you have an herby olive oil on hand with a little color to it.

Store-bought hummus can be just as healthy as its homemade counterpart, the experts say, and very convenient—but you should read the label carefully. “Buy hummus with as few ingredients as possible, mostly whole foods,” Jones recommends. To do that, just look for ingredients with names you recognize on the label.

If your hummus is the right consistency or thickness but it tastes dry and pasty, it might be lacking a bit of oil. This recipe relies on the tahini to give it creaminess as I don't find olive oil makes enough of a difference to warrant the extra calories.

How long does homemade hummus last? 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.

For starters, homemade humus will almost always spoil faster because store-bought, which is prepared in sterile and contamination-controlled environments. Homemade varieties will generally last anywhere from 3-4 days, whereas store-bought brands generally lasts 6-7 days after opening.

You might need more tahini, garlic, lemon and/or salt and very likely more chickpea water. Add a bit of each as you need, the recipe explains. "Blitz the hummus until very smooth, a few minutes at least. Don't worry about the hummus being too loose; it will thicken as it sits."

While hummus is a very healthy snack option, it should not be consumed in large quantities.

Hummus is a versatile ingredient and a good source of fiber, along with vitamins and minerals like manganese, copper, folate, and iron. Thanks to its impressive nutrient profile, it may help ease inflammation, promote heart health, and support blood sugar management.

Store-bought hummus may have a longer shelf life than homemade, depending on how it is prepared. But both varieties should last up to 7 days in the refrigerator (for prepared hummus this applies once the container is opened). Like any food, hummus is perishable and is prone to spoilage.

What to add to hummus to make it better? ›

Add Some Nice Spice

Spices like paprika, cayenne pepper and sumac all lend a marvelous layer of nuance to a classic hummus dip. Seasoning your hummus with spices is perfect when you want to supercharge your hummus dishes with flavor. This trick also works with making canned soup taste better.

But this dip is also flexible: cumin and pimentón are optional, as are herbs or blends like za'atar.

If you feel adventurous, try replacing the tahini with an equal amount of peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, Greek yogurt, chopped roasted peppers, pitted olives, roasted beets, steamed sweet potato, avocado, or thawed frozen peas, to name just a few possibilities.

Hummus freezes well for about four months. The longer you freeze hummus, the more likely it is to change flavor and texture. If you have a lot of hummus to freeze but want to thaw it out in small amounts, use several freezer bags to divide it. Place your desired amount in the bag and press out as much air as possible.

Hummus that has gone bad smells sour, and it also tastes sour. Hummus that is fresh shouldn't have a real scent unless it has been seasoned with something strong like garlic or lemon. Once the sour smell and taste set in, it will likely develop the telltale signs of something expired: mold (via Eat by Date).

Store-bought hummus may have a longer shelf life than homemade, depending on how it is prepared. But both varieties should last up to 7 days in the refrigerator (for prepared hummus this applies once the container is opened). Like any food, hummus is perishable and is prone to spoilage.

Hummus firms up quite a bit after it is chilled. So transfer it to an airtight container and into the fridge for a couple hours to allow it to firm up. But if you don't mind a thinner consistency, enjoy it right away!

Flavor: Traditional hummus consists of chickpeas, tahini, oil, salt and a squeeze of lemon. Some brands may add in a dash of garlic or pepper. Overall, though, the flavor should be tasty and versatile enough for dipping veggies, smearing on sandwiches and more.