Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is so easy to make at home! Made with sweet roasted red bell peppers, chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and spices. It’s perfect for snacking or serve it as an appetizer!
This recipe and photos have been updated since the original post on 4/2/2014
Hummus is one of those dips when once I get started on it, it’s hard to stop eating it. There’s something about that creamy texture that keeps me coming back for more.
These days you can probably find at least five different brands of hummus and likely five or more flavors of hummus on top of that.
You can never go wrong with classic hummus, but flavors such as roasted garlic, sun dried tomato, jalapeño, and my favorite, roasted red pepper hummus.
Buying hummus is of course convenient and easy, but it’s just as easy to make homemade hummus. The only special equipment you need to make it is either a food processor or high speed blender.
What Is Hummus
Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip or spread that is made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. It’s often garnished with olive oil, paprika, and additional chickpeas or parsley.
Hummus is often served with pita bread for dipping. These days there are many flavor variations and even sweet, dessert style hummus.
Is Hummus Healthy?
Overall, hummus is considered to be healthy. Of course, as with all foods, everything is best in moderation.
Hummus is a great combination of protein and fiber, which help in making you feel full and satisfied after eating it. Tahini and olive oil which are both used in hummus are a good source of mono and poly-unsaturated fats.
Even store bought varieties of hummus are for the most part a healthy option. Just be sure to read the label for ingredients and avoid those with preservatives or sugar. The ingredients should be minimal and mostly whole foods.
Ingredients For Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Canned Chickpeas + Aquafaba – Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are the star ingredient in hummus. When processed or blended they break down into a paste, which acts as the base for hummus.
Tahini – Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has a similar, but slightly runnier consistency to that of nut butters. My favorite brand of tahini is Soom Foods.
Roasted Red Peppers – You can either use jarred roasted red peppers or roast your own over an open flame, under the broiler in the oven, or on the grill.
Lemon juice – Lemon juice gives the hummus a fresh flavor and adds acidity. Please use fresh lemon juice and not bottled.
Garlic – For this recipe I used approximately 1/2 teaspoon grated garlic, about 1 clove. I don’t care for raw garlic so I used a minimal amount. If you enjoy the flavor feel free to use 1 teaspoon grated or to taste.
Olive Oil – Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil when making hummus. Since you won’t be cooking out any of the flavor you want to make sure it tastes good.
Ground Cumin – Cumin has an earthy flavor that pairs well with the sweetness of the peppers and the smokiness of the smoked paprika.
Smoked Paprika – It adds a smoky flavor that enhances the roasted red pepper flavor. Regular paprika can be used in it’s place if you prefer.
What Is Aquafaba?
You may have noticed in the ingredients list for this hummus, aquafaba was listed. Aquafaba is the liquid that’s in with canned chickpeas or the leftover liquid if you cook your own chickpeas.
It works great as a binder and can also be whipped into a foam. It’s often used in vegan recipes, most notably as a replacement for whipped egg whites.
For this hummus recipe, aquafaba gives the hummus an extra smooth creamy texture. A lot of people swear that removing the skins from the chickpeas is the key to creamy hummus, but I disagree.
As long as you’re using a food processor or high speed blender along with the aquafaba, there’s no reason to spend all that time removing the skins from the chickpeas.
How To Make Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Homemade hummus couldn’t be easier or faster to make! Start by roughly chopping the roasted red bell peppers. If using jarred be sure to shake off any liquid.
Remove 2 tablespoons of the aquafaba from the can of chickpeas and put it into the food processor or blender. Drain off the rest of the liquid from the can and rinse the chickpeas.
Add the chickpeas, roasted red peppers, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, ground cumin, smoked, paprika, and salt to the food processor or blender. Blend until the chickpeas are broken up. At this point it will still be chunky.
Add in the olive oil and a couple tablespoons of water. If you prefer you can replace the water with additional olive oil. Purée the hummus until it’s smooth and creamy.
Taste the hummus for seasoning and add additional, salt, lemon juice, or oil as needed. Put the hummus into a bowl and garnish with olive oil, additional chopped roasted red peppers, and a sprinkle of za’atar spice mix if desired.
How To Store Hummus
Homemade hummus should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and should be eaten within 3-4 days. Store bought will generally keep for a week in the refrigerator.
Ways To Use Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Roasted red pepper hummus has many uses. It can be used as a dip to have with pita and vegetables. Use it as a spread for your sandwich instead of mayonnaise or even as pasta sauce.
Another favorite way to use roasted red pepper hummus is to top these Greek Pita Pizzas with it.
More Hummus Recipes
- Butternut Squash Hummus
- Paleo Roasted Carrot and Sweet Potato Hummus
- Baked Green Chile Spinach Artichoke Hummus Dip
- Avocado Lime Hummus
Did you make this Roasted Red Pepper Hummus? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.
It looks really great. I want to try this right away. Thanks.
I, too, am obsessed with hummus! I’ve never actually made my own though. I need to give this version a try. It looks amazing and creamy and satisfying. Love it!
Hummus is the best! You need to try making your own, it’s so easy and tastes amazing!