Nitrate & Nitrite Free Blender Hummus

Total time10 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time0 min

4.6

(29)

Creamy, garlicky, and deeply satisfying, this blender hummus comes together with a handful of wholesome pantry staples and zero mystery ingredients. That matters more than you might think — plenty of store-bought dips sneak in preservatives, including nitrates and nitrites used to extend shelf life, so making your own is the cleanest way to know exactly what's in the bowl. The method here is genuinely clever: blending the garlic and lemon juice first means the garlic gets fully broken down and mellowed before anything else goes in, which gives the final dip a smooth, balanced heat rather than a sharp bite. Tahini and reserved chickpea liquid are the secret weapons — together they create that ultra-silky, pale, almost whipped texture you'd expect from a good restaurant version. A drizzle of olive oil pooled in the center and a dusting of smoked paprika turn a simple dip into something that looks genuinely impressive on the table. Serve it with warm pita, raw vegetables, or honestly just a spoon — it's that good straight from the blender.

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Ingredients

6 servings

2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
½ cup well-stirred tahini
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
2 cloves garlic, peeled
¾ tsp fine salt
½ tsp ground cumin
3–5 tbsp reserved chickpea liquid or cold water, as needed

For serving

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for serving
¼ tsp smoked paprika or sweet paprika, for serving (optional)
1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Add the garlic and lemon juice to the blender and blend on high for 15 seconds, until the garlic is finely minced and fragrant.
2
Add the tahini, salt, and cumin to the blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds, until the mixture is thick and pale.

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