I’m a big fan of hummus, I can eat it every single day for any meal of the day. Growing up in the Middle East meant that my childhood consisted with a lot of hummus, and falafel. Hummus can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or for a snack as a dip with crackers or veggies.
Pumpkin Hummus Recipe
As we’re celebrating fall flavors, I made a large batch of pumpkin puree and started adding it to all foods possible! It’s great for not just desserts, but to make things like pasta sauces, soups, and pumpkin hummus. This vegan pumpkin hummus is very rich and creamy, you will love the texture. It’s a super healthy and easy to prepare dip that is usually eaten with toasted pita bread, but bread can be substituted with celery sticks, carrots, or sliced cucumbers.
The Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need all the usual hummus ingredients + pumpkin puree! I wrote a detailed post about making an authentic classic hummus, so make sure to check it out. For this pumpkin hummus, you will need:
Chickpeas – either pre-soak dried chickpeas overnight and cook them the next day, or use canned cooked chickpeas. I prefer cooking my own chickpeas when I have the time as it’s healthier and saves a bit of money, on days when I’m in a rush I just open a can of chickpeas for the hummus. Pumpkin puree – again, either make your own pumpkin puree like I do, or buy a can of ready-made pumpkin puree. Making it at home is SO easy though! Olive oil – it’s such an essential ingredient when it comes to making hummus. However, if you’re avoiding oils then feel free to skip it and add a bit more water instead. Tahini – I’m sure that you’ve heard of tahini sesame paste. This is the ingredient that makes your hummus creamy! If you don’t have tahini, you can either make your own by grinding sesame seeds in a food processor until smooth or substitute with smooth peanut butter instead. Lemon juice – never skip lemon juice! The acidity gives a depth of flavor to the hummus, it’s so important. Garlic – decide how much garlic you would like to add, I personally LOVE garlic and normally add a fair amount. But I suggest that you add one small clove of garlic, have a taste and see if you would like to add more. Cumin – In the Middle East, chickpeas are ALWAYS paired with ground cumin. The reason is pretty simple, it prevents bloating! Yes, you’ve heard me right, to avoid upset tummies, just add a dash of cumin to your hummus. Salt and hot chili – the chili can be omitted if you like. But it’s great in this recipe! You can also add smoked paprika, it tastes great.
And if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, don’t be afraid to play with the ingredients! If you like things hot, you can double the amount of the chili powder, if you’re making this hummus to take to work then it’s better not to add garlic! Love smoked paprika? Add it!
How to make pumpkin hummus?
You will need either a food processor, a blender, or a small electric chopper. The blender will give you the smoothest consistency, but I like my hummus a bit chunky and my KitchenAid food processor does a great job when it comes to hummus. Get all of your ingredients, and put them in the food processor. Blitz until you get a smooth dip. Depending on how smooth or runny you would like your hummus to be, add water. And of course, adjust the seasonings to your preference. I always taste my hummus after it’s all blended up, and decide whether I would like to add more salt, garlic, or chili. I don’t usually use canned pumpkin puree. I always buy a fresh pumpkin to either consume fresh or freeze. And to make the puree I just cook the pumpkin in my pressure cooker, or roast it, then I blitz it using a food processor until smooth. Here’s a detailed pumpkin puree recipe.
What to serve pumpkin hummus with?
Traditionally hummus is eaten with bread. So it’s great with pita bread, naan bread, or spread over toast or sourdough. Crackers. Veggie sticks (celery, cucumber, carrot).
I sometimes make hummus sandwiches, or pack to take for lunch to work, or even to picnics! It makes a healthy and light snack. This recipe first appeared on Little Sunny Kitchen on October 11th, 2015. © Little Sunny Kitchen
