Ten Best Healthy Hummus Recipes

hummus image via shutterstock

The Super Bowl is just around the corner and with the piles of nachos and fried chicken wings that are bound to be on tables across the country, here are some options for a healthier treat. (You can also find healthier chicken wing recipes here, and healthy dip recipes here.) Traditional hummus is a mixture of protein-packed garbanzo beans (chickpeas), garlic, and tahini (sesame) paste but these recipes use various veggies and beans to create a plethora of options. Serve with veggies, whole wheat crackers, and baked pita chips.

1. Jalapeño Hummus Recipe

via Alida’s Kitchen

Game day and spicy jalapeños are practically a football tradition and this recipe brings the heat. To balance some of the the spice, serve with celery stalks. If using fresh jalapeño, you may need to add a little extra virgin olive oil to replace the juice from the canned peppers.

2. Healthy Chipotle Hummus

via Cooking al a Mel

Give hummus a Tex Mex flair with chipotle and adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers are mildly spicy but add a smoky flavor that goes well with barbecue or fajitas. If you buy canned chipotles, the sauce it comes in will be the adobo sauce, so you get both ingredients in one purchase.

3. Classic Hummus Recipe

via The Spice Kit

Having a classic hummus recipe in your arsenal is a good idea. Serve with a selection of veggies and whole grain crackers so all of your guests will have their pick. If you like a lot of spice, try drizzling hot sauce over the top with some olive oil.

4. Buffalo Hummus

via Table

Buffalo sauce is a mixture of hot sauce and butter but you can find lighter bottled versions. When choosing a bottled sauce, watch out for the sodium levels.

5. Black Bean Hummus

via Knead for Food

This recipe uses black beans instead of chickpeas for an earthy flavor. The best part of hummus is the ease of building flavors. Everything goes into a food processor and you can taste and alter the seasoning as it becomes the finished product.

6. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

via Wholehearted Eats

This hummus not only offers a delicious flavor but will also bring a pop of color to your game day table. Instead of using peppers from a jar that have been sitting in oil, make your own. Simply char the peppers on the stove top, seal in a paper bag or cover in a bowl with plastic wrap for about five minutes, and then peel the skin off and slice.

7. Healthy Pumpkin Hummus

via Lemon and Mocha

For a little surprise, try this fall-inspired hummus flavored with pumpkin puree. It is very important to make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. If you like butternut squash, try roasting some cubes and throwing that in the processor instead of pumpkin.

8. Roasted Garlic Hummus

via Jo Cooks 

Do not be freaked out by the first ingredient (three whole heads of garlic). Roasting the garlic will take the harsh bite, and bad breath aspect away and instead will create a creamy, slightly sweet flavor that will melt in your mouth. This recipe uses peanut butter instead of tahini, but you can substitute in tahini.

9. Olive Hummus

via For Reals Life

This recipe is great because the type of olive you use is entirely up to you. The recipe is written with green olives but you can use kalamata or black. Any pitted olive will work for this recipe.

10. Roasted Eggplant Hummus Recipe

via Mother Thyme

Try adding cumin to this recipe for a burst of earthy flavor. When blending this hummus, the eggplant might make the mixture thicker than normal; simply add extra olive oil one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.