Always travel with hummus. That’s my advice to new vegans and to anyone trying to eat healthy on the road.
Having hummus in a small cooler saved us last month when my family went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. With the streets and streetcars closed for parades, we were limited to restaurants we could walk to, and because it was Mardi Gras, all of the vegan-friendly ones that were close enough were closed.
So we ate hummus–hummus on carrots, hummus on crackers, hummus on bread. The best meal we had was hummus on a Subway Veggie sandwich; after dry bread and crackers, a sandwich with all those veggies tasted like something from a 4-star restaurant, I kid you not.
The night before my family goes on any trip, you’ll find me in the kitchen making this hummus, which takes about 5 minutes in a high-powered blender. Up until a few years ago, I always used my food processor to make it, but once I tried the silky smooth hummus that a Vitamix produces, I’ve never gone back to the processor.
The recipe is basically the same; the blender version just uses more liquid to get the blades moving, but somehow it comes out as thick as the food processor version. And the best part: if you want, you can use whole sesame seeds instead of tahini. The blender grinds them as it makes the hummus.
If you don’t have a high-speed blender, you can make my basic hummus in a food processor. Start by chopping the garlic first, and use only 1/4 cup of liquid. Bryanna Clark Grogan says that you can get silky smooth hummus from a food processor if you start with warm chickpeas, so if you cook your own beans, I recommend that.
I like to make a a mildly-seasoned hummus for general use (and my daughter’s taste), and then scoop out half of it, add additional seasonings to the Vitamix, and blend. Since the seasonings I like to add are usually spicy, I garnish the “doctored” hummus with slices of jalapeno to let my family know which container holds the fiery hummus. The amounts of seasoning in the recipe below are conservative, so feel free to add more to taste.
I have over a dozen flavors of hummus and hummus-type dips and several recipes where hummus is an ingredient. Find them all here.
Turn your blender on high and use a tamper (as you would when making almond butter) to push the ingredients into the blades. After 30 seconds, it should be fully blended. If you’d like a thinner consistency, just add a bit more chickpea liquid or water until it’s your desired consistency. Serve it up!
Hummus in the Blender You can make this with either canned or home cooked chickpeas. If you’re using canned, I recommend using organic beans. Drain the liquid from one of the cans, but leave the other undrained and use its liquid instead of the water. If you’re using home cooked chickpeas, you may need less water so start with barely 3/4 cup and add more if the hummus is too thick.
- ▢ 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas (See notes below for home-cooked chickpeas)
- ▢ 2-4 cloves garlic peeled
- ▢ 2 tablespoons tahini (or 4 tablespoons sesame seeds)
- ▢ 2-4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ▢ 1/4-1 teaspoon cumin
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ 1/8-1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder or cayenne pepper
- ▢ Salt to taste
- Drain one of the cans of chickpeas. Dump both cans (including liquid from one) into the blender. Place all remaining ingredients except salt in the blender in the order listed, using the smaller amounts. Start the machine on low and increase speed to high. Use the Vitamix plunger to break up air pockets and push chickpeas toward the blades, if necessary. (Other blenders: Stop and use a spatula to do this.) If the mixture is too thick, add water a tablespoon at a time. Turn up to the highest speed and blend for a few seconds until hummus is completely smooth.
- Stop blender and taste the hummus. Add additional seasonings and salt to taste and blend briefly to combine.
- Store hummus in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It’s best after it’s had a chance to rest for at least an hour, but use within a week.
P.S. I’m on the road again as I write this, so it may take me a little time to approve and respond to your comments. Rest assured that I have a big tub of hummus in the ice chest!
Rick Bayless Fundamentals: Blender vs. Food Processor
FAQ
Is it better to make hummus in blender or food processor?
What can I use instead of a food processor for hummus?
Can you use a mixer to make hummus?
Which blender to use for hummus?
Can you make hummus in a blender?
The main difference is that more water would be required than if you were making it in a food processor. But the whole process should take about 5 minutes. You can use a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix for best results but a regular blender is fine. Can you make hummus with an immersion blender? Yes.
Is hummus healthy to eat?
Making hummus is a fun way to introduce more protein, fiber, and plant-based nutrients into your diet. In addition, the food has other substances that act as antioxidants such as vitamins and folic acid.
Can you use a food processor instead of a blender?
A blender is going to be the next best thing to a food processor. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend. Just remember to put in your thicker ingredients first, like the chickpeas and tahini. Otherwise, your blender, unless you have a commercial-grade version, might have trouble thoroughly blending everything.
Does hummus need a food processor?
No food processor needed. This recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free and can easily be made oil-free. It doesn’t contain any animal products. The basic ingredients include chickpeas and tahini, a sesame seed paste. It pairs well with these tasty air fryer falafel. How is hummus traditionally made? Can you make hummus with an immersion blender?