6 Ways to Eat Hummus, All Day Long
Hummus is a traditional Middle Eastern dip that's steadily making its way onto plates throughout North America. About one-third of Americans eat hummus, spending $800 million to buy the prepared dip in grocery stores in 2018.
Hummus is a flavorful blend of chickpeas, sesame tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It has a smooth, buttery texture and contains plant protein, fiber, calcium, and potassium. In North America, it's often served as a dip with pita bread and vegetables, but can be changed up and added to your diet at any time of day. Here are some ideas:
Scrambled Eggs With Hummus
Hummus adds a nutty flavor to scrambled eggs. Cook the eggs as usual until they're starting to set, then spoon some hummus into the pan. Gently scramble the eggs until fully cooked and there's no liquid left. Use about a tablespoon of hummus per egg.
Hummus Toast
Spread a generous layer of hummus on a slice of toast for a savory start to the day. Add your choice of toppings, such as:
- Sunny-side-up egg, avocado, red peppers, and tomato
- Hard-boiled eggs and spinach
- Smoked salmon with capers and dill
- Tomato slices, basil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze
Stuffed Avocado
For a tasty low-carb lunch, slice an avocado in half and remove the pit. Add a heaping dollop of hummus to each half and top with your choice of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, walnuts, feta, and olives.
Veggie Wraps and Flatbreads
Store-bought hummus comes in a variety of flavors and makes a delicious spread on a warm tortilla. Pile on cucumber, lettuce, sprouts, avocado, and shredded carrot, and roll it up for a healthy vegetarian lunch.
Elevate this dish for dinner by roasting up squash, eggplant, zucchini, and red peppers. Serve the veggies on flatbread with hummus as a base. Or, make the hummus into dressing by blending it with water, lemon juice, and garlic, and drizzle it on top of the roasted veggies.
Layered Dip
Layered dips are ideal for a crowd and can be adjusted to suit personal tastes. Cover the bottom of a serving dish with a generous amount of hummus, and add layers of Greek yogurt, tomato, cucumber, olives, feta, and parsley. Serve with tortilla chips so guests can scoop up the dip.
Easy Hummus Pasta
For a fresh take on pasta, switch out the cream sauce and use protein-packed hummus. Cook up a 16 oz. box of spaghetti, and set aside a cup of pasta water before draining the noodles. Mix the noodles with a cup of hummus, half of the reserved pasta water, and any add-ins you like, such as spinach, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil. Stir until the sauce is smooth, adding more pasta water if needed for the right consistency.