Loaded Lemon Hummus

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(Note: this post was originally published on May 24, 2020. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)

Loaded Hummus: More is More

Imagine a hummus so epic it needs to be on a platter instead of a bowl. Yup, that's pretty much my appetizer dream. This is exactly what your weekend needs.

This hummus came about early this spring. We were having some friends over for happy hour, and I love to make hummus for entertaining; it's easy, can be made ahead, and allows everyone to build their own plates. But I didn't want to make just any old hummus... I wanted to make Epic Hummus.

This platter is the best of all hummus worlds. It's an eye-catching centerpiece and would be a great addition to your next BBQ or deck party. It's infinitely customizable, both in terms of the hummus itself and all the goodies around the outside, meaning you can make it to suit basically any dietary needs and preferences. And it's deceptively fast to put together, especially if you make the hummus ahead of time.

Moral of the story: this is definitely the right choice for your next party!

Mediterranean Flavors

The base of this massive platter is a very simple lemon hummus; just chick peas, tahini, lemon zest, lemon juice, a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. That simple base means you can go crazy with garnishes and accompaniments, building up a platter that is quite intricate as a whole.

As shown here, I stayed within a Mediterranean theme, sort of a combination of a Greek salad and a mezze platter. The hummus itself is swirled with pesto and topped with crispy chick peas, pine nuts, sumac, and fresh mint. That beautiful, creamy center is then perfectly complemented by cucumbers, tomatoes, grilled pita, and grilled artichoke hearts for dipping.

Because of the lemon in the hummus, this platter is exceptionally wonderful for spring and summer, when the bright lemony flavor really shines. The lemon is complemented by a sprinkling of sumac, which also has a citrusy flavor and just so happens to be my favorite item on my spice rack right now.

A Tahini Discount!

Speaking of tahini, this hummus is evidence of my continued tahini obsession. I've recently fallen in love with Seeds of Collaboration tahini. Their tahini is truly incredible, I recommend it so highly; it's unlike any tahini I've ever found at the store. And thankfully, today is your lucky day since you can get 20% off your tahini order! Just use the code ROGUE at check-out (get a couple jars, you'll fly through them).

Make it Your Own

My favorite part about this platter? Putting it all together! There's no right or wrong way to do it, and the more intricate it is, the more fun everyone will have interacting with it. In that way, it's sort of an adventure to discover the various flavors and ingredients. This hummus is an excellent excuse to go totally over the top with all the garnishes and accompaniments you can think of.

The list of ingredients below is just a starting point, so take it and run! If you're a garlic lover, feel free to add a couple cloves into the hummus. If you want to add some dairy, some cubes of salty feta would be fabulous. Use basil instead of mint, almonds instead of pine nuts, switch up the veggies, use crackers instead of pita... you get the idea. There's no wrong way to do this.

As written, the recipe below will feed about half a dozen people a pretty robust dinner. Of course that depends on how many accompaniments you serve, and how many bags of pita chips you go through! But I'd assume six people for a nibbling dinner, or 12-15 people for appetizers. Scale up or down as needed, there's always a bigger platter!

Let's Talk Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below. This one is really built for customization, so please share what you've done!

  • Chick peas
  • Olive oil
  • Tahini. Please get yourself some really good tahini, it's more than worth it! Remember to use the code ROGUE to get 20% off your order at Seeds of Collaboration.
  • Lemons
  • Salt and pepper
  • Pesto. Either homemade or store-bought is fine, you do you.
  • Roasted pine nuts. These are just heavenly and work so well here. But you could use some chopped up almonds instead (or in addition to).
  • Fresh mint. I love the freshness this brings, and it really helps give this dish some Middle Eastern flair. But feel free to use fresh basil instead, for a more Italian vibe.
  • Sprinkle of sumac. My new favorite spice!! You'll be able to find it at artisan grocery stores or your local Co-Op, or you can order it online. I recommend this spice so highly; I use it constantly!! It tastes like lemon and is such a great spice to have on-hand at all times, and especially when you're out of lemons.
  • Cucumbers. I love the adorable little baby cucumbers that I've been finding at Trader Joe's lately, but anything is fine.
  • Assorted colorful tomatoes
  • Artichoke hearts. Of course you could make your own, but who has time for that? Not me. There are some good canned and jarred options. Trader Joe's now sells grilled (!!!), marinated artichoke hearts, which is what I used.
  • Pita. I like to grill (and generously salt!) my own wedges, but pita chips would be great too.

Closing Thoughts

Isn't this a fun one?? I love how customizable it is. I think this platter epitomizes how I like to entertain: no-fuss and casual. I much prefer to make a bunch of nibbles rather than a formal meal. And since this hummus is vegan (as written) and can easily be altered to fit specific diets (e.g. no nuts, no gluten), it's a great bet. I like that everyone can build their own plates, taking whatever they enjoy most.

And if you're looking for something simpler, no worries! Just take the hummus part of this recipe and omit the toppings. A simple lemon hummus is wonderful to have stashed in the fridge for putting on sandwiches, dolloping on salads to add protein, or as a healthy snack.

I hope this platter brings some fun to your next get-together. It's basically a hummus party!

Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

Suggested Pairings

Blackberry Limoncello Gin Smash

Grilled and Raw Spring Salad

Somewhere Over The Rainbow Pasta Salad

Grilled Peach and Farro Salad

Cauliflower and Farro Salad with Caramelized Lemon Turmeric Sauce

Disclosure: Seeds of Collaboration is a long-term partner. I receive free product from Seeds of Collaboration and take a small commission on sales using the discount code. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.

Loaded Lemon Hummus

A delightfully zippy lemon hummus gets excessively loaded with ALL THE TOPPINGS! Perfect for weekend snacking, especially during the spring and summer.

Author:
Lee

Ingredients

For the Hummus and Crispy Chick Peas

  • Three 15-oz can of chick peas, divided
  • Olive oil for cooking
  • 0.5 c tahini
  • Zest and juice of a lemon
  • Generous drizzle of bold, flavorful olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • Generous grind of black pepper

For the Toppings

  • Pesto
  • Lemon slices or wedges
  • Roasted pine nuts
  • Fresh mint
  • Sprinkle of sumac
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Baby cucumbers
  • Assorted colorful tomatoes
  • Artichoke hearts
  • Pita wedges and/or pita chips

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the chick peas. Set aside about half a can worth, which you'll crisp up and use to garnish the hummus.
  2. Put the chick peas you're going to crisp up on a sheet tray with a dash of olive oil and broil them for 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them and toss them frequently. They'll turn golden brown and will crisp up. Set them aside for using later.
  3. In a food processor, combine all the hummus ingredients (~2.5 cans of chick peas, tahini, lemon zest and juice, additional drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper). Process for several minutes until a smooth, creamy consistency develops, scraping down the sides as needed. If you have trouble getting a smooth hummus, add a little splash of water or olive oil (the latter with yield a richer hummus). Repeat as needed.
  4. Place your hummus in the center of a large platter, flatten it out, and give it a nice swirl on top.
  5. Drizzled pesto into the hummus swirl, surrounded the swirl with crispy chick peas, and add some lemon slices. Then, sprinkle the surface of the hummus with pine nuts, ribbons of fresh mint, sumac, and freshly ground pepper.
  6. Cut up the cucumbers, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts.
  7. Finish the platter by surrounding your hummus with the veggies and pita chips. Don't be afraid to pile it up and let things overlap.
  8. Serve immediately with a big spoon for scooping up all the lemony goodness!

Leave a Comment

Please Share Your Thoughts!

Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.

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Gina
April 17, 2022
Such a great recipe, thank you! We had this with a bunch of pita chips last weekend. So fresh!