Hummus Without Tahini

Written by
Saad Fayed
A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Saad Fayed
Updated 06/04/19
Hummus without tahini
The Spruce
  • Total: 10 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
266 Calories
16g Fat
24g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 266
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 238mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Protein 8g
Calcium 40mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Traditional hummus recipes are made with tahini which is a sesame seed paste. It has a wonderful nutty flavor but also a touch of bitterness which probably explains why some children don't like it. There are also those who suffer from a sesame allergy and, consequently, can't eat traditional hummus. Fortunately, it's totally possible to make hummus without the tahini.

Hummus is a dip/spread that is made from chickpeas and, in fact, hummus is the Arabic word for chickpea. You may notice that many hummus recipes call for garbanzo beans, not chickpeas. Garbanzo is the Spanish translation of chickpea. They are called cece beans in Italy.
Hummus is one of the oldest foods dating back to ancient Egypt and chickpeas were used quite frequently in that region over 7,000 years ago.

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Ingredients

  • 1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil (to replace the tahini)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Pepper (to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Hummus without tahini ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. In a food processor, blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

    Hummus ingredients in a food processor
     The Spruce

  3. Serve immediately with pita bread, pita chips, or vegetables.

    Hummus without tahini with pita bread

  4. Enjoy!

Tip

  • Store in an airtight container for up to three days.

Hummus Recipes

If you frequent Middle Eastern restaurants and eat the hummus, you've likely discovered that the taste varies a little from place to place. Some recipes have a stronger lemon flavor, others have a more pronounced garlic flavor, and some are distinctly spicier. When making your own hummus, you have to keep your own tastes in mind.

If a recipe calls for a lot of tahini and you don't like tahini, simply scale down the amount or omit it completely. Middle Eastern cooking varies often from country to country, town to town and even from family to family. Ingredients and amounts aren't set in stone and it's part of the fun to add a little of this, take away a bit of that and still have a culinary masterpiece!

Serving Hummus as an Appetizer

Hummus is the original dip, as it were. Serve a variety of different flavors with warm pita bread wedges, pita chips, fresh vegetables, or try one of our appetizer ideas with hummus.

Serve the hummus in brightly colored bowls and topped with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes, toasted pine nuts and/or roasted chickpeas. No matter how you eat it, hummus is both a healthy and delicious snack.