Roasted Garlic Hummus

Roasted garlic hummus is an easy appetizer dip that's creamy, flavorful, and perfect for snacking. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, this hummus is perfect for serving a crowd.

This roasted garlic hummus is simple to make from scratch - it comes together in minutes in a food processor. The only prep work involves roasting your garlic in the oven beforehand!

Plus, this recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly, so it's a great choice to please a variety of diets (just like my spicy roasted red pepper hummus!).

Hummus makes a great homemade snack or appetizer. Serve a bowl of hummus with pita chips, pretzels, and fresh veggies. You can also use hummus as a condiment - spread onto your next sandwich instead of using mayonnaise.

Or, fill a pita with hummus, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers for an easy vegan meal. You can even use hummus as a pasta sauce, like in my roasted red pepper hummus pasta (it's easy to substitute with any flavor of hummus you have on hand).

Ingredients and substitutions

• Garlic - You'll need two heads of garlic for this recipe. It may seem like a lot, but roasting garlic mellows the flavor dramatically, adding a caramelized, almost sweet flavor.
• Olive oil - Can be substituted with canola oil or avocado oil.
• Canned chickpeas can be substituted with fresh, cooked chickpeas. Canned chickpeas are easier and quicker, but fresh chickpeas will give you a better flavor overall. Either will work in this recipe. If you have dried chickpeas on hand, follow this guide on how to cook chickpeas: Inspired Taste: How to cook dried chickpeas
• Tahini is a common ingredient in hummus. If you can't find it, I'd recommend substituting with sun butter (sunflower seed butter) or cashew butter. Keep in mind that this will alter the taste of your hummus based on what type of nut or seed butter used.
• Lemon juice - Adds a fresh, tangy, citrusy flavor. Fresh squeezed lemon juice adds the best flavor, but can be substituted with white vinegar or lime juice if needed.
• Spices - salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper add flavor to your hummus. For a spicy hummus, feel free to add more cayenne pepper to taste.

What is tahini?

Tahini a smooth paste made from ground sesame seeds, similar to peanut butter. It is a common ingredient in dishes like hummus and baba ghanoush, and is widely used in Middle Eastern cooking.

It has a nutty, earthy flavor, and may taste slightly bitter when compared to a sweet nut butter, like peanut butter.

Where can you buy tahini? I find tahini at my local grocery store in the ethnic foods section. You can also buy tahini online: Amazon: Organic Sesame Tahini

Do I need to peel my chickpeas?

If you want a smooth and creamy hummus, I recommend removing the skins from your chickpeas.

I know - peeling chickpeas can be very time consuming and tedious. However, removing the skins before blending your hummus will result in a smoother, creamier texture overall.

Ways to peel chickpeas

The easiest (but most time consuming) method is to pinch each chickpea gently between two fingers until the skin comes loose.

Or, try rubbing a handful of chickpeas between both hands until the skins come loose. You can also place a single layer of chickpeas between two tea towels on the counter top and rub lightly with your hands or a rolling pin.

I recommend skinning your chickpeas while your garlic is roasting in the oven. Turn on some music or a tv show to help pass the time while peeling.

What to serve with hummus

Try serving hummus with pita chips, pretzel chips, pork rinds, crackers, or tortilla chips for an easy, crunchy snack.

Other great options include fresh veggies, like celery, carrots, or bell pepper slices.

Hummus can also be served as a condiment - spread onto your next sandwich or wrap instead of mayonnaise. Try adding a layer of hummus to your morning avocado toast for some added flavor and protein.

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