Rice Free Spicy Harissa Hummus
Creamy, smoky, and packing a serious kick, this hummus is the kind of dip that makes everything else on the table feel like an afterthought. The harissa is made entirely from scratch — dried chiles toasted in a skillet, then blended with smoked paprika, coriander, caraway, and turmeric into a deeply fragrant paste that swirls beautifully into the finished bowl. Chickpeas, tahini, fresh lemon juice, and a stream of reserved chickpea liquid get processed until impossibly smooth, so the texture is silky rather than gritty or dense. Every single ingredient here is naturally grain-free, which means no substitutions or label-checking anxiety — just bold, clean flavors from start to finish. The harissa well in the center isn't just for looks; it delivers a concentrated hit of heat and spice in every scoop. Finish it with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a scatter of sesame seeds, and you've got something that looks like it came from a restaurant but came together in your own kitchen.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the hummus
- 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
For the harissa
- 3 dried red chiles (such as guajillo or new mexico), stems and seeds removed
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground caraway
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the dried chiles in a small skillet over medium heat and toast, turning once, until fragrant and slightly darkened, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a small bowl, cover with boiling water, and soak for 10 minutes until softened. Drain and pat dry.
- 2
Transfer the soaked chiles to the food processor along with the smoked paprika, ground coriander, ground caraway, ground turmeric, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp salt. Process until a coarse paste forms, scraping down the sides as needed, about 30 seconds. Transfer the harissa paste to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the food processor bowl.
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