A creamy, garlicky, and smoked paprika hummus recipe that pairs well with a fresh Israeli salad or pita bread!
One of my most memorable meals was many years ago at Zahav in Philadelphia with my mom; I still think about it. The chef and owner, Michael Solomonov, specializes in Israeli cuisine, and has gained national recognition for his outstanding contribution to the world of food. I’ve eaten my fair share of Israeli/Middle Eastern food, but this meal was on a higher plane altogether. My mom and I wanted to sample as much as possible, so we ended up ordering quite a bit of food. Every single menu item was absolutely divine.
Smoky (Smoked Paprika) Hummus
After my unforgettable experience at Zahav, I discovered how easy it was (and soooo much more flavorful!) to make homemade hummus. I mean, we’re talking minutes, and presto, you have a fresh batch of the tastiest stuff ready to eat. This smoked paprika hummus recipe is inspired by the one in Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking. Fun fact that I learned from this cookbook: Israeli -style hummus has much more tahini than Greek-style hummus, which is more garlic-and-lemon forward.
I decided to combine the two and create a hummus recipe that has plenty of tahini AND garlic! I also wanted a smoky flavor to add a more nuanced flavor profile, so I’ve increased the normal amount of paprika in most hummus recipes. The result is a smooth and creamy, garlicky, smoky, tahini-rich bowl of happiness. I make it frequently and I hope you do, too.
I know that some people swear by using dried chickpeas, but if you are short on time, canned chickpeas work just fine, and that is what I use here. A smidge of heat is added to this recipe because the bold flavors of garlic and tahini can hold their own. The parsley added at the end is optional, but it does add bright freshness, so I recommend it. Pair hummus with a simple cucumber salad, carrot sticks, or pita chips!
And if you love tahini as much as I do, be sure to try my recipe for No-Bake Tahini Cheesecake!
Enjoy your week, and feel free to drop me a line in the comments – I would love to hear if you try this recipe! Or tag me on Instagram @maryannehoekstra to let me know how it turned out! Also, if you are enjoying my blog, please consider recommending it to your friends. They can subscribe here.
Smoky Hummus
Ingredients
- 15 oz. chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 splash olive oil, for serving
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend the chickpeas until a chunky mixture forms. Scrape down sides of bowl, and add garlic, lemon juice, salt, tahini, cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- With machine running, add 1/4 cup cold water by the tablespoonful and continue to blend until a smoothy and creamy texture is created. It may be necessary to stop, scrape down sides of bowl again, and continue processing for another minute or so. Taste and add additional salt if necessary.
- To serve, spread the hummus in a bowl, drizzle generously with olive oil, dust with additional paprika, and sprinkle with parsley. Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
This brings back so many fun memories! I will be making some hummus!
Yay! 🙂
That looks delicious! Better not tell my husband how much garlic is in it. He’s a total wuss when it come to garlic. Bet he just thinks it tastes yummy.
Ha! He doesn’t need to know!
I love adding paprika to hummus. It adds so much incredible flavour.
It really takes it to another level!
This has amazing flavor and so delicious! Everyone loved this and it turned out fantastic! Such a great dip and so tasty. Remaking this again!
So glad you liked it, Beth!
Oh my, this smoky hummus is calling my name! Looks fabulous!
Thanks, Andrea! I hope you love it as much as I do!
Love all the flavors in this, and that extra splash of olive oil takes it to the next level.
Thanks, Biana! It’s one of my favorite “easy snack” recipes!