Super Easy Loaded Hummus

Tired of boring hummus? This loaded hummus is about to be your new favourite crowd pleasing appetizer. An easy lemon garlic hummus topped with fresh vegetables and herbs... what's not to love!

Why you need this Mediterranean hummus

I am a HUGE fan of snacks. I truly do not understand how people can go HOURS and hours without a single food. I'm a hungry girl (which is why I created this guide to balanced snacking for you) which means snacks are not only important but NECESSARY.

In my opinion hummus is like that friend that's always there for you. It doesn't matter how long you've had apart, you can trust that whenever you reconnect it'll be like no time has passed. It's a snack that I will NEVER tire of. However, every now and again I do look for ways to *spice* it up a little.

Which is where this loaded hummus comes in! Why do I love it so much?.....

1. It's the perfect appetizer to impress ANYONE- looking for an appetizer that looks impressive but actually only takes 5 minutes? This is your recipe. Not only does this lemon garlic hummus taste amazing, it's also incredibly easy.
2. It's a great balanced snack option- Veggies AND plant based protein? All you need is some whole grain pita or crackers and you have a snack that will keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.
3. It's so versatile! Add this to your favorite wraps, salads or bowls to add a little flavour and colour!

Ingredients needed for lemon garlic hummus

Chickpeas- The star of any hummus recipe! I personally use canned chickpeas out of convenience however dried chickpeas will work as well! Just make sure you prepare your chickpeas according to the package instructions first if you are using dried.

Lemon- I find fresh lemon juice gives the best flavour in this lemon garlic hummus! However if you only have pre-squeezed lemon juice on hand that will work as well!

Garlic- For convenience, I typically just use fresh garlic and press it. However roasted garlic also tastes AMAZING in this hummus!

Tahini- The key ingredient in a traditional hummus. Tahini is essentially sesame seed butter and gives hummus a nice nutty flavour! You can find it at most grocery stores in the 'natural foods' sections.

Aquafaba- The water canned chickpeas are stored in! I like to add a bit of this into my hummus to help give it a nice creamy texture (and help it blend). HOWEVER if you forget to save some while draining your chickpeas or if you are using dried chickpeas and don't have aquafaba you can just use water!

Spices- Salt, black pepper, cayenne powder, ground cumin and paprika are all you need!

Olive oil- For that silky, smooth creamy texture! As we aren't baking this I do find using a higher quality olive oil provides such a nice flavour. However any olive oil will work. Olive oil note: Make sure your olive oil is in a dark bottle and stored away from light or heat as this helps avoid the loss of antioxidants and decrease the likelihood of your oil going rancid!

What are the best hummus toppings for this loaded hummus?

For this Mediterranean style loaded hummus I like to LOAD it up with fresh veggies and herbs! My current favourite toppings include:

• Feta cheese
• Fresh parsley
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Bell pepper
• Black olives
• Red onion

OR you can get creative! Try out your own combinations and let me know how they turned out.

How to make this loaded hummus

Despite how easy hummus is to make I've really fallen off my homemade hummus game recently. Out of convenience I've been buying store bought hummus. Which there is nothing wrong with BUT with the cost of food rising, it's expensive when you are going through a tub of hummus per week!

So with how easy this hummus is I am vowing to make my own hummus for AT LEAST the rest of the year! Honestly this recipe is really only one simple step and you have enough hummus for the entire week!

All you need to do is grab a high powered blender or food processor, add all your hummus base ingredients into it and BLEND until smooth and creamy. Depending on the strength of your blender you may have to stir a few times in between blending! Once you have a smooth hummus, you can adjust the taste based on your personal preference by adding additional lemon juice, garlic, or spices.

To make this loaded hummus, I like to add my hummus to a large container and add my toppings right on top!

Tips for the creamiest hummus

• Some recipes will tell you to remove the skin from every single chickpea to get the creamiest hummus... however as someone who is a huge believer in the power of convenience I have always skipped that step. IF you REALLY want the silkiest smooth, creamy hummus feel free to remove the skins of your chickpeas prior to blending (you can use two dish cloths to gently rub the chickpeas, loosening the skins.
• Add your wet ingredients into your blender FIRST (before the chickpeas). This will help make blending easier. In this recipe the wet ingredients are: lemon juice, tahini, olive oil and aquafaba!
• Use a food processor. I have personally made hummus in both my vitamix and my food processor and I will say it is 100% easier to make this lemon garlic hummus in a food processor. As the base is so much larger it makes it so much easier for the hummus to blend without needing to stir it every few minutes (plus clean up is easier). My food processor is THIS one and I absolutely love it.
• Make your hummus in batches. If your blender isn't strong enough, try cutting hits into two batches and blending each separately!

What to eat with hummus

My favourite thing about hummus is how versatile it is. As a dietitian I am always looking for new easy savory snacks to recommend. I love hummus because it's packed with plant based protein and fibre from the chickpeas. However this loaded hummus is EXTRA special as it also has additional fibre and nutrients form the veggies.

My favorite things to pair hummus with are:

• Low sodium tortilla chips (like these)
• Homemade pita chips (slice your favourite pita or tortillas, and air fry or bake at 400F for about 5 minutes)
• Chopped vegetables (such as carrots, snap peas and bel peppers)

OR use it as a topping! I love adding it to:

• Salads
• Wraps
• Sandwiches
• Nourish bowls (it tastes amazing on these greek feta meatball bowls)

Frequently asked questions

How long does this hummus last?

I would say typically homemade hummus lasts about 5 days in the fridge stored in an airtight container. I have had hummus last up to a week, however it depends on your storage methods.

*note* to keep it as fresh as possible- avoid dipping foods directly into the container. Instead spoon some hummus into a dish or separate container for dipping! This helps avoid mixing in any other foods or potential bacteria.

If you are making loaded hummus, it will usually stay fresh for about 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. So I would recommend making the hummus ahead of time and just adding the toppings the day of if you are bringing it to a party!

More easy balanced appetizers

If you loved this Mediterranean hummus recipe you NEED to try some of my other favourite balanced appetizers and snacks. Some of my favourites include:

• Herb and garlic cottage cheese dip
• Easy pizza bites EASY Air Fryer Pizza Bites
• Chickpea and vegetable fritters
• Mini quinoa cups

PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this easy loaded hummus recipe, don't forget to tag me on Instagram -@nourishedbynic or leave a comment below!

📖 Recipe