10 Unique Hummus Recipes That Are Far from Basic

March 15, 2024

Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

Even our favorite go-to snacks, like hummus, can get a little boring when we have them the same way day after day. Sometimes we just want something with a little more pizzazz.

Luckily, hummus is a bit of a blank slate, so changing things up just a little can make all the difference. These unique recipes bring the fun, letting you take your hummus from savory to sweet to spicy and back again, depending on your mood. Though they involve a few extra ingredients, the beauty of hummus is that it’s a prep-ahead snack, so you don’t have to stress. The bottom line: You’ll never find hummus boring again.

1. Beet Hummus

Courtesy of Rainbow Plant Life

How gorgeous is this? With just one beet, you get this brilliant hue and the root veggie’s earthy flavor in your hummus. Roast the beet ahead of time, so all you have to do is blend everything together when you’re ready to snack.

Try this recipe from Rainbow Plant Life.

2. Edamame Avocado Hummus

Courtesy of Well Plated

Can’t do sesame? No problem: You can make this hummus without tahini. This unique hummus recipe combines two powerhouse ingredients — avocados and edamame — for a super creamy hummus loaded with vegetarian protein and healthy fats.

Try this recipe from Well Plated.

3. Roasted Carrot Hummus

Courtesy of Foolproof Living

The humble carrot transforms into a sweet-savory hummus ingredient in this snack recipe. We can see customizing this one a bit — a little Harissa or maybe a hit of red pepper flakes to spice it up would be delicious. Roast the carrots ahead of time and smear this hummus on your morning toast to mix it up.

Try this recipe from Foolproof Living.

4. Pesto White Bean Basil Hummus

Courtesy of Sunkissed Kitchen

All the favorite flavors of summer live on year-round in this hummus featuring white beans instead of chickpeas. Use your favorite homemade or jarred pesto (or the one recommended in the recipe), and combine it with white beans for a twist on a classic. Add a dollop to your next sandwich or swirl it in with pasta (diluted with a little cooking water, naturally).

Try this recipe from Sunkissed Kitchen.

5. Chocolate Brownie Hummus

Courtesy of Chocolate Covered Katie

Is it dessert? Is it a snack? It’s both. This hummus, with black beans (instead of chickpeas), cocoa powder, almond butter, and your favorite liquid sweetener, is creamy and luscious. Serve it with sliced strawberries, chunks of banana, apple slices, or graham crackers for a healthy-ish dessert or indulgent snack.

Try this recipe for Chocolate Hummus from Chocolate Covered Katie.

6. Sweet Spicy Curry Hummus

Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

Oh hummus, is there anything you can’t do? Start with a straight-up chickpea hummus recipe with the standard savory ingredients, and then add curry powder, turmeric, and freshly grated ginger for a flavor glow-up as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. This would pair perfectly with vegetables, or with grilled meats such as chicken, lamb, or beef.

Try this recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

7. Green Goddess Hummus

Courtesy of Minimalist Baker

The #greengoddess trend lives on in this recipe, which combines everyone’s favorite super green dressing with hummus. The recipe calls for basil and parsley, but feel free to mix it up and use cilantro if that’s what you have (in which case, use lime instead of lemon).

Try this recipe from the Minimalist Baker.

8. Butternut Hummus with Feta and Pomegranates

Courtesy of Love and Lemons

Hummus is firmly rooted in the Mediterranean diet, so adding feta and pomegranate makes perfect sense. Pureed butternut squash adds an orange hue, plus fiber and some earthy-sweet flavor. You can cook and puree the squash ahead of time, which speeds up the assembly process considerably, and then combine it with the rest of the ingredients when you’re ready to serve.

Try this recipe from Love and Lemons.

9. Lima Bean Hummus

Courtesy of Eating Bird Food

Lima beans don’t get enough love. But you can change that by making this unique hummus recipe with the iron- and protein-rich beans, which lend a nutty taste. Grab that bag of lima beans languishing in your freezer and try this version of hummus for something different.

Try this recipe from Eating Bird Food.

10. Cauliflower Hummus

Courtesy of Slender Kitchen

Cauliflower can be rice, it can be pizza crust – so of course it can be hummus, too. Since cauliflower takes the place of chickpeas here, this hummus is low in carbs – but it still has plenty of flavor thanks to tahini, roasted garlic, and cumin. Sprinkle some paprika on top if you want to up the smoky-sweet taste.

Try this recipe from Slender Kitchen.