This roasted garlic hummus recipe is one of my most requested recipes and always wins rave reviews when I serve it to friends and family. The garlic and lemon blend well with the surprise hint of cumin to create a creamy texture that’s absolutely perfect!

Sometimes you have a moment emblazoned in your memory – something you never forget. It might be a special moment with a loved one or it could be a time you tried or learned something new.

One of those moments for me was after I moved to Colorado. I tried Greek food for the first time, and oh my goodness the birds sang a chipper tune, the sun shone a little brighter, and everything just felt right with the world. Everything about the food I tried that day was amazing to me. It was love at first taste.

I didn’t try anything crazy exotic (or at least what would have been exotic in my mind, like tabbouleh), all I had was a gyro and some Hummus with pita bread.

But that one simple experience started a love affair that continues to this day. I love Mediterranean food – especially Greek food.

Related Post: Homemade Gyros with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Why Make Homemade Garlic Hummus Instead of Just Buying It?

After trying hummus that day, I started buying it in the grocery store and enjoying it at home. But many years ago, I started trying to make more staples instead of buying them pre-made.

That way I can control what’s in them and ensure that I’m feeding my family something I feel good about (while also saving some money).

Homemade hummus was one of those recipes that I decided to tackle. It was one of those foods that I had convinced myself was difficult to make, and once I discovered just how ridiculously easy it is to make – well, I never looked back.

A Simple, Creamy Hummus recipe

Basically, this Mediterranean staple is just chickpeas (cooked and mashed) mixed with tahini, lemon juice, Olive Oil, garlic, and salt. But it’s very versatile, so you can get creative with adding additional ingredients to change the flavor of your hummus.

It’s one of my favorite pantry staple recipes.

Honestly, the ingredients in most commercially-produced hummus are pretty good (and you can find many flavors at the store).

But…buying it is expensive compared to making it! And given how super easy and cheap it is to make, why not try your hand at making homemade garlic hummus yourself?

Plus, the store-bought stuff is good, but homemade is AMAZING. It’s so flavorful, creamy, and fresh. Seriously, nothing beats a fresh, creamy hummus!

What To Eat With Hummus

Most people think of hummus as a snack. Something you eat with pita crackers in between meals. 

Oh my! Let hummus be the star! To do that, you probably need a few other everyday examples of how you can use hummus:

Use it as a Dip 

You already knew that, right? But check out below just all the things you can dip into your hummus

Use It as a Salad Dressing 

Don’t like soggy salad? Add a dab of hummus to your salad and dip your salad into it as you eat

Bake With It 

Try subbing hummus for some of the fat in your favorite baking or chocolate recipe (just a few tablespoons should be enough, don’t use too much). The chickpea spread will help the brownies retain their moisture – just be sure to use plain, classic hummus.

Use It as a Spread

You can swap out the mayo on your favorite sandwich for some healthy, protein-packed, creamy hummus. It adds a wonderful flavor punch!

Make a Protein Bowl With It 

I got this idea from Panera (it’s sooo good!): grains (such as quinoa or cilantro-lime brown rice), greens (spinach, arugula), diced cucumbers, red grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, lemon tahini dressing, feta cheese crumbles, a dollop of Greek yogurt, and a few tablespoons of creamy hummus. Yum!

What to Dip in Hummus

Crackers and carrot sticks are great for dipping, but don’t limit yourself to the cliché dipping items. Feel free to get creative and make hummus the centerpiece of a platter people can actually get excited about. Think:

• Carrots
• Celery
• Fried asparagus
• Bell peppers
• Cucumber
• Crackers (wheat, veggie)
• Rice cakes
• Radish slices
• Tortilla chips
• Pretzels
• Pita bread
• Sweet potato chips
• Broccoli
• Crispy endives
• Cauliflower
• Crunchy sugar snaps
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Tempeh
• Yellow squash
• Shaved radishes
• Fruit (apples, dates, apricots)

How to Make This Easy Roasted Garlic Hummus Recipe

When you make hummus, you need garlic, olive oil, chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, water, cumin, cayenne pepper (if desired), and salt.

You can either buy or make tahini sauce for your hummus.

Make your Own Tahini

Making your own tahini is simple; all you need are sesame seeds and olive oil. Put 1 cup of toasted sesame seeds, along with 2-4 tablespoons olive oil into your food processor and blend it until it’s nice and smooth. 

Note: You can make this Roasted Garlic Hummus recipe in either a food processor or a blender. However, from my experience, it’s a LOT easier to make in a food processor.

To save time, roast the garlic in advance while preparing other roasted vegetables or dishes in the oven. Roasted garlic can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container covered in olive oil for up to one week.

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut the top off garlic head and drizzle with a small amount of olive oil. Wrap in aluminum foil and place in pre-heated oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
2. Add remaining olive oil, chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini, water, ground cumin and cayenne pepper (if desired) to a blender or food processor. Once cool, remove roasted garlic cloves from outer skin and add to the container.
3. Season with sea salt, to taste, and blend until smooth. Add more water, if necessary, to achieve desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired.
4. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with high-quality extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Serve immediately with fresh vegetables and Kalamata olives. Enjoy!

Serve your roasted garlic hummus recipe with:

• Fresh vegetables: Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and/or celery
• Pita Chips
• Kalamata olives
• High-quality extra virgin olive oil
• Smoked paprika, for garnish

That’s it! Four simple steps and you’ll never buy the store-bought kind again! Why would you – you’ve got everything in your pantry (or can make it) and this fresh, creamy hummus tastes WAY better than anything you would buy.

Now you can try your hand at making different flavors of delicious, creamy hummus. Roasted red pepper? Black bean? Chocolate-y dessert hummus? What other flavors would you like to see?

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More From Made in a Pinch:

• Homemade Gyros with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
• Garlic Parmesan Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Dip