The Clever Method That Will Take Your Hummus Up A Notch

Hummus — that savory, chickpea-studded Middle-Eastern specialty we all know and love — is basically the shape-shifter of dips. It can be slathered on just about anything, thanks to its subtly delicious but not-too-in-your-face flavor profile. It can be dipped, spread, or even eaten as the base of a meal. And it can be jazzed up any which way, with more herbs and spices, roasted vegetables, or even chocolate. But sometimes, nothing beats the classic.

It's abundantly available throughout our local grocery stores in a plethora of brands and flavors, but with only a few ingredients and a few minutes of your day required to make it yourself — homemade hummus is a no-brainer. It's easy, affordable, and healthy, plus the real deal always tastes better than the store-bought version.

Daily Meal recipe developer Jennine Rye has just the recipe we need for a classic, no-fuss hummus that's sure to please, whether you dip, spread, or scoop. And she's got one special step involved in this Creamy Homemade Hummus Recipe that makes it a hum-must.

While the recipe is simple and straight-forward in terms of ingredients, there's a certain order to blending them together that will make for the ultimate creamy spread. As a first step before adding any of the other ingredients, Rye recommends mixing the tahini with the lemon juice separately. "It's a little touch," she tells Daily Meal, "but it makes a difference to the final texture."

Store-bought or homemade tahini will both work, and fresh lemons are always best for lemon juice. Rye says to puree the two ingredients — her recipe calls for ⅓ cup tahini and ¼ cup lemon juice — for a full minute. She describes the final result of this hummus as "super creamy and full of flavor," and this tahini-lemon-blending step is the step that really locks in that "super creamy" quality.

From there, you'll add the olive oil, garlic, spices, and chickpeas (in that order). Once you have that perfectly textured homemade hummus, top it off with an optional drizzle of olive oil, paprika, or sumac for a little extra flavor, and pair it with your favorite meals or dipping vehicles.

Hummus isn't just creamy, delicious, and dippable; it's extremely good for you! Thanks to its healthy ingredients like chickpeas, garlic, and olive oil, it's an excellent source of plant-based protein, rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients, and high in fiber and healthy fats (per Healthline). This classic recipe from Rye is no different: filled with nutritious ingredients, it's low in sugar and packs 11 grams of protein per serving.

And while hummus can sometimes be put in the "pita and veggies" box, there's so much you can do with this spreadable goodness. Rye points out that the tasty dip "can be served up in a variety of ways" — some of her suggestions are to make some hummus-topped toast or baked potatoes, or even incorporate it into a salad dressing. You can use it instead of mayo on a sandwich or spread it on a wrap, mix it into a hearty quinoa bowl, pair it with grilled lemon chicken or spiced roasted vegetables like cauliflower and eggplant, or of course, enjoy it with other Middle-Eastern dishes like herby falafel and aromatic rice.

You can see how the entire Creamy Homemade Hummus Recipe comes together on Daily Meal's YouTube. Watch, make, eat, enjoy!