Healthy Snack: Easy Hummus Recipe
By Marnie Kunz
If you’re looking for a healthy snack, try this easy hummus recipe. All you need is the ingredients and a blender. Hummus is a tasty snack packed with fiber, protein and healthy carbs. I grew up eating a lot of hummus, which my mom learned to make when my parents lived in Beirut, Lebanon. Later it became trendy in mainstream America, but the store-bought hummus never tastes as good as homemade hummus and often doesn’t have as many nutrients.
Preparing Hummus: What You’ll Need
Healthy Snack: Easy Hummus Recipe
By Marnie Kunz
If you’re looking for a healthy snack, try this easy hummus recipe. All you need is the ingredients and a blender. Hummus is a tasty snack packed with fiber, protein, and healthy carbs. I grew up eating a lot of hummus, which my mom learned to make when my parents lived in Beirut, Lebanon. Later it became trendy in mainstream America, but store-bought hummus never tastes as good as homemade hummus and often doesn’t have as many nutrients.
Preparing Hummus: What You’ll Need
Hummus is a great healthy snack that only takes about 5 minutes to make. This easy hummus recipe is from my mom and I get a lot of compliments on it when I make it for friends and family. As a novice cook, I appreciate that it’s easy to make, and as a trainer and running coach, I love the health benefits. Plus, you can personalize your hummus by adding more or less spices, garlic, and olive oil.
The main equipment you need for this recipe is a blender or food processor. You won’t need to do any cooking and the recipe only takes about five minutes to prepare (perfect if you have a short attention span like me). If you’re doing meal prep, hummus is a versatile food that you can make and store for healthy meals and snacks throughout the week. Pair it with fresh chopped-up vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers for quick eats during your week.
Enjoy!
Health Benefits of Hummus
Hummus is an easy and healthy snack to make that is packed with nutrients. This dish is naturally vegan, with chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) providing plant-based protein. Hummus has important vitamins and minerals like calcium, folate, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. The tahini in hummus has vitamin E. Another health benefit of this easy hummus recipe is that it has plenty of fiber to help your digestion and gut health. Hummus also has calcium for strong bones and heart-healthy fats from olive oil.
How to Eat Hummus
Hummus is a versatile and easy-to-make food that you can pack in a container for snacks on the go. For an extra boost of nutrients, dip fresh veggies like carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli into your hummus. You can also use pita chips or whole wheat pita bread to dip into hummus. Hummus makes a great sandwich and burger spread as well. I like to toast bread and spread hummus on it then add a veggie burger, tomatoes, and spinach for a tasty veggie sandwich.
Easy Hummus Recipe
Here is my mom’s easy hummus recipe:
2 Cans of chickpeas (15-16 oz. per can)
2 Lemons, cut in half
1/2 Cup Olive oil
2 Cloves of garlic
2 Tbsp. Tahini
2 tsp. Chili powder
1 tsp. Fresh ground pepper
Fresh parsley for garnish
Pita chips, fresh whole wheat pita bread, or vegetables (such as carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers) for dipping in the hummus. You can also spread hummus on bread as a dressing for sandwiches and burgers.
Serves 8 for appetizer sizes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Directions:
Drain the chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) in a strainer and rinse them off. This helps get rid of excess salt from storage. Pour the chickpeas into a blender.
Squeeze the juice from your fresh lemons into the blender.
Add 1/2 cup of olive oil. If you need to make the hummus smoother or creamier at any point, you can add a little more olive oil as needed.
Peel your garlic and put two cloves into the blender.
Add 2 tablespoons of tahini, chili powder, and pepper.
Blend on high until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Add more olive oil or lemon juice if you need to make the hummus less thick. You may have to periodically turn off the blender and use a fork to mix the top and bottom portions then blend again til everything is smooth. Be patient, blending can take a few minutes to get everything smooth.
Once your hummus is mixed and creamy, get a spoon and taste it. If you want more spices, add more chili powder and pepper. If you like a more tangy hummus, add a little more lemon juice. If you’re a garlic lover, you can add another garlic clove. Blend till creamy.
Scoop out your hummus with a spoon and spatula.
Sprinkle some fresh parsley in the middle of your hummus. If you like more moist hummus, drizzle a little olive oil on top.
Serve with fresh pita bread, pita chips, or scooping vegetables such as carrots.
Variations
If you’d like to add your own twist to this easy hummus recipe, you can add more flavors with extra garlic, more olive oil, or chopped kalamata olives. For spicy food lovers, add a little sriracha or jalapeno pepper to your hummus when you’re blending it. You can also add turmeric for some anti-inflammatory benefits. For a cheesy flavor, throw a handful of feta cheese into your blender while making the hummus. Another option for an extra burst of flavor is to get seasoned pita chips, such as rosemary or garlic pita chips.
If you’re looking for more healthy recipes, check out our Recipes section for protein-rich snacks, protein shakes, pasta, salmon, and more.
Bon Appetit!
Let me know what you think of this easy hummus recipe in the comments below and tag @Runstreet on Instagram to share your healthy eats and get cheered on in your training. And don’t forget to sign up for our Wellness Wednesday newsletter for exclusive training, recipes, and health tips delivered to your inbox weekly.😊
Related Posts: Healthy Smoothie Recipe, Three Easy and Healthy Protein Pasta Recipes
Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach and the creator of Runstreet Art Runs, which bring together communities through running and street art. She is a Brooklyn resident, Akita mom, and writer. She enjoys traveling, art, dogs, and eating messily.
