Classic Israeli Hummus Recipe

Name: Homemade Israeli Hummus (Pareve)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 790 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups dry chickpeas; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/3 cup tahini; 4 to 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 2 lemons, or to taste; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; Extra virgin olive oil, for garnish; Fresh parsley finely chopped, for garnish

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 60 mins

Soaking Time: 12 hrs

Total: 13 hrs 10 mins

Servings: 4 to 6 servings

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Hummus—that much loved, humble chickpea dip—is a vital part of the cuisine throughout the Middle East. In Israel, where it's served at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack times, it's practically iconic.

Nowadays, you can find tubs of hummus in supermarkets worldwide, in all sorts of flavors. But nothing beats homemade hummus, and once you get the hang of the basic recipe, you can tweak it to get exactly the texture and flavor you desire.

Serve hummus with freshly baked pita bread, as a dip for veggies, in wraps or falafel sandwiches, or as part of a mezze spread. Or, take a cue from Israel's famous hotel breakfast spreads, and start your day with a pita stuffed with hummus and Israeli salad. The possibilities are truly endless!

Want to doctor up your hummus before serving? Sprinkle with your favorite spice or spice blend—smoked paprika or za'atar are both great options. You can dress it up further by topping with pine nuts and plain or roasted chickpeas or stir in chopped roasted red peppers or olives and lemon zest.

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1 3/4 cups dry chickpeas
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup tahini
4 to 6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 2 lemons, to taste
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh parsley finely chopped, for garnish

Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce / Julia Estrada
Place the chickpeas in a large bowl. Add enough cold water to cover the chickpeas by several inches. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean tea towel and allow to soak overnight.

The Spruce / Julia Estrada
Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Place in a large stockpot, add the baking soda, and enough cold water to cover the chickpeas by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, skimming off any foam that rises to the top. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the chickpeas are soft enough to crush between your fingers.

The Spruce / Julia Estrada
Reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, then drain and rinse the chickpeas. Reserve a tablespoon or two of the cooked chickpeas for garnish, if desired.

The Spruce / Julia Estrada
Put the cooked chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika in a food processor. Puree until smooth. If the hummus is too thick or dry, add a bit of the cooking liquid, more lemon juice, or tahini to taste.

The Spruce / Julia Estrada
To serve, place the hummus in a dish, and use the back of a spoon to make a shallow well in the center. Place any reserved chickpeas in the well, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley and regular or smoked paprika.

The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Tip

Leftover hummus may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
325	Calories
13g	Fat
41g	Carbs
14g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	325
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g	16%
Saturated Fat 2g	8%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 582mg	25%
Total Carbohydrate 41g	15%
Dietary Fiber 8g	28%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 10mg	51%
Calcium 57mg	4%
Iron 3mg	18%
Potassium 508mg	11%
*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.